Organisers want less restriction on next month’s Hong Kong Athletics Championships after staging first event since pandemic

The two-day trials at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground observe social distancing rules as the first domestic meet in 10 months goes ahead

The national championships offer additional ranking points for athletes chasing a place at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

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Lui Lai-yiu wins the 100-metre hurdles in the first domestic meet since January under pandemic at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 5:53pm, 1 Nov 2020Updated: 10:26pm, 1 Nov 2020

Hong Kong athletics officials have appealed for a further relaxing of restrictions on events organisation after successfully completing their first event since the pandemic struck.

The Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association (HKAAA) two-day trials that concluded at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Sunday marked the first domestic competition in more than 10 months, with 100 athletes back in action on each day.

Hurdler Vera Lui Lai-yiu and long jumpers Chan Ming-tai and Yue Nga-xin were among the few that flexed their muscles before restarting their 2020 Olympic qualification campaign due to resume on December 1.

Chan Ka-ho (front) and Wong Kin-chun in the men’s 5,000 metre at the HKAAA trials at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, the first domestic meet in which the top two finishers both came in under 15 minutes. Wong won in 14 minutes and 56.65 seconds while Chan clocked 14:58.21. Photo: Jonathan Wong

“We need to provide more competition for the athletes, especially those who are still chasing their place at the Tokyo Olympics next summer,” said association chairman Kwan Kee. “A number of events have been called off this year due to the pandemic outbreak, which has interrupted the calendar and their preparation. Hopefully business can get back to normal gradually as we target next month’s Hong Kong Championships, the major event for the athletes.

“We hope the government can allow us to organise the event on similar scale as it used to be, to create the required competitive atmosphere so that athletes can achieve good results.”