Vera Lui confident of breaking ‘untouchable’ 25-year-old Hong Kong record in women’s hurdles

It’s a record that has stood the test of time but in-form hurdler Vera Lui Lai-yiu says she could rewrite the record books in the women’s 100m hurdles. Twenty-five years ago, US-based sprinter Chan Sau-ying shocked the city by clocking 13.14 seconds at the Mount SAC Relays meeting in Walnut, United States, and no one has ever gone close to the Hong Kong record – until now. Lui has the record in her sights as she attempts to put her name in lights at one of the biggest athletics meetings of the year at this summer’s World University Games in Naples, Italy next month. The athletics competition is from July 3-14. The 24-year-old Hong Kong hurdling champion became the highest-profile local figure to join the global “Me Too” movement in 2017 after claiming she was sexually assaulted by a coach 12 years ago. But Lui wants to banish those memories as she focuses on her athletic prowess on the track. Vera Lui wins her 100m hurdles final in a disappointing 13.55 seconds at wet Hong Kong Championships She is hitting top form and her 13.18 seconds wind-assisted finish at the Asia Grand Prix second leg in Chongqing earlier this month is testimony that she is getting close to the Hong Kong record considered “untouchable” a quarter of a century ago. “The top three finishers finished just over 13 seconds at the last [university] Games in Taipei while at the previous Games in Gwangju [South Korea] we had some hurdlers coming in under 13 seconds,” said Lui, who helped unfurl the Hong Kong flag at a presentation ceremony for the Games squad on Wednesday. Hong Kong hurdler Vera Lui sets personal best at Asian Championships; narrowly misses out on podium finish “I know I have the quality to come close to [around] 13 seconds after my excellent showing in Chongqing. Although my time wasn’t recognised because it was wind assisted, I still experienced clocking such a time under such conditions and it’s definitely a boost to my confidence ahead of the University Games.” In order to reserve energy for Naples, Lui has decided to skip the Hon Kong Inter-City Championships at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground this weekend. She feels she has done all the hard work that she hopes will carry her to a possible medal in Naples. But she’s eyeing the Hong Kong record more than anything else. “I prepared for the Games well such as running against the men’s hurdlers and I just need to keep focused and know when to rest as I have been running quite a lot this season,” said Lui, who recorded a personal best time of 13.32 seconds at the Asian Championships in Doha in April. “I can easily pick up my form again once the competition starts.” Vera Lui scarred for life after #MeToo nightmare – ‘it will always be ingrained in my mind’ Hong Kong is sending 58 athletes in 10 disciplines to the University Games. The athletic squad also includes two long jump record holders – men’s long jumper Chan Ming-tai and women’s long jumper Yue Yaxin. Chan finished fourth in his University Games debut in Gwangju four years ago with a jump of 7.89 metres which was a Hong Kong record before he improved it to 8.12 metres the following year. “I jumped 7.8 metres earlier this season but I won’t give myself too much pressure,” said Chan. “Of course it would be great if I can come close to eight metres, which I haven’t done for a long time. We’ll see.” Hong Kong will also compete in fencing and swimming at the Games. But top local fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai and world-class swimmer Siobhan Haughey will be notable absentees as they have opted to compete in their respective world championships in the same month. Kong is the world number one in women’s épée and the Worlds in Budapest will be one of the tournaments that will enable her to score Olympic qualification points, while Haughey already captured two gold at the last Games in Taiwan when the swimming star won the women’s 100 metres and 200 metres freestyle. Hong Kong also won two bronze medals at the last Games in wushu and tennis.