2020 Games: Hong Kong’s world record-breaking Chan Chi-fung rowing against doubt in bid to qualify for Tokyo Olympics
- Sports psychologists helping former Asian junior champion Chan Chi-fung battle his demons
- Postponing the Tokyo Olympics has given the young rower more time to refine skills and adapt to double sculls
World record-breaking rower Chan Chi-fung is still nagged by doubts about his ability – earlier this year he hid in a boathouse in tears during a training camp in Italy for the 2020 Olympic Asia/Oceania qualification.
“The time was running short and the pressure was there as the qualifiers were supposed to start in April,” said the 22-year-old. “I started to question myself. What am I doing? Do I still have a future in the sport?”
Despite owning three Asian junior gold medals, the youngster is still finding his way in the senior ranks against the world’s best rowers.
“The problem is still there, but thanks to the Tokyo Olympics being pushed back, I have more time to deal with it. My confidence is also growing day by day, especially after setting back-to-back indoor rowing machine world records,” said Chan, who is being helped by sports psychologists at the Sports Institute in Fo Tan.
Hong Kong has had a men’s lightweight double sculls team in the Olympics since the 2000 Sydney Games and the former Asian junior champion is groomed to take up the baton.