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Tsang Yee-ting (middle) had a preliminary test return positive for the Covid-19 disease. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Second Hong Kong karate athlete tests positive for Covid-19 after returning from a training camp in France

  • Tsang Yee-ting returned to Hong Kong with teammate Lee Chun-ho, who was confirmed to have Covid-19 on Wednesday
  • The Hong Kong Sports Institute urges anyone who had contact with the two athletes to go into 14 days of isolation

Karate exponent Tsang Yee-ting has returned a positive preliminary test for Covid-19, becoming the second elite Hong Kong athlete to contract the disease.

Her positive result comes two days after karate teammate Lee Chun-ho was confirmed with Covid-19 caused by the Sars-Cov-2 virus. Lee is receiving treatment at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po.

Both athletes returned to Hong Kong on Sunday with two teammates and their coach after a training camp in France as part of their preparation for the Olympic Games qualification process. After Lee’s case was confirmed, Tsang and her two teammates and the coach were listed as close contacts.

Tsang Yee-ting (left) with boyfriend Chris Cheng before the 2018 Asian Games. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

On Wednesday, Tsang posted a message on social media supporting Lee, telling users that Lee had no lung damage despite the infection. “This proves how strong my tough brother is,” Tsang said on Facebook.

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The 27-year-old plans to get married next year to long-time sweetheart Chris Cheng Tsz-man, who is also a member of the Hong Kong team in the men’s kata. Despite having January wedding plans, the duo were focused on two goals: to qualify for this year’s Olympic Games in Japan and to stay clear of the coronavirus.

Cheng is reportedly training in Japan and was not part of the squad that returned to Hong Kong on Sunday.

Tsang Yee-ting fights against Dilnoza Bakirova, of Uzbekistan, at the 2014 Asian Games. Photo: Nora Tam

Tsang is ranked 52nd in the women’s kumite under-55kg standings and is unable to qualify for the Olympic Games solely through the world rankings, in which only the top four are eligible. She was hoping to compete in a qualifying tournament in Paris in May but the event was called off because of the spread of the coronavirus.

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Karate is a tier A sport at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, which urged anyone who had contact with the two athletes to enter 14 days of isolation. The Institute, in a statement, said its Fo Tan facilities underwent deep disinfection and cleansing on Tuesday, including the whole floor of the karate athletes’ quarters and canteen areas where they had eaten after their return.

Tsang Yee-ting (left) and teammate Ma Man-sum prepare for the 2014 Asian Games. Photo: Cheng Kok-yin

The Institute also asked athletes who returned to Hong Kong from overseas training or competitions after March 5 to go through a 14-day quarantine period, either in their homes or at a hotel room.

Tsang has represented Hong Kong at the past two Asian Games, in Incheon and Jakarta respectively, in the women’s kumite under-50kg events. She reached the bronze medal match in South Korea before losing to Jang So-young, while Tsang was eliminated in the first round in Indonesia.

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This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Second Hong Kong athlete tests positive for Covid-19
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