Marathon runner Christy Yiu benefits as Olympic qualification resumes in December after Tokyo Games delay
- Injury-plagued Yiu has not raced in a marathon after hurting left foot in December
- She needs another impressive result to ensure a second Olympic appearance after debut in 2016 Rio Games
Injury-plagued Christy Yiu Kit-ching looks set to benefit from the delayed 2020 Olympic qualification, which will resume in December after the Covid-19 pandemic ground global sport to a halt.
World Athletics announced earlier this month they would suspend the qualification period for the Tokyo Games, which was supposed to run between April and November, following consultation with relevant bodies including the athletes’ commission, area presidents and councils.
“It will certainly give me more lead time for the qualification after an injury-troubled season,” said Yiu, who made her Olympic debut at the Rio Games four years ago. “I don’t have to risk my foot injury with more than seven months to go, and physically and mentally I can be better prepared.”
Yiu damaged the second metatarsal bone in her left foot a week before the 2019 Asian Marathon Championships in December and has since missed all competitions.
She set a Hong Kong record at the 2019 Gold Coast Marathon in Australia in July, which was her last marathon event. Yiu planned to return to the field for next month’s Riga Marathon in Latvia as the 32-year-old continues to search for a second convincing result to ensure her Olympic appearance in Tokyo next year.