Tokyo Olympics: windsurfers Hayley Chan and Michael Cheng confirmed for Tokyo as Covid-19 stymies selection process
- Both athletes were in pole position after qualifying last year, before selection process was reset because of Games being delayed
- Results of the last internal selection hold sway with decision needing to be made by January to allow athletes to properly prepare
Windsurfers Hayley Chan Hei-man and Michael Cheng Chun-leung will be making their second Olympic appearances after their selection was confirmed for the delayed Tokyo Games this summer.
Chan and Cheng had secured their 2020 tickets for Hong Kong in the women’s and men’s RS: X after competing at the 2019 world championships in Torbole, Italy. The pair had their spots confirmed after going through a two-round internal selection that was completed last February.
However, with the Tokyo Games being pushed back to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, they were told they had to go through the internal selection again against other Hong Kong team members.
But a lack of overseas competition forced the selection process, which must be completed before January, to be cancelled.
“We will base [the selection] on results of the last internal selection and recommend Chan and Cheng for the Olympic Games this summer,” said Sports Institute head windsurfing coach Chan King-yin. “The decision still has to be ratified by the Windsurfing Association at its general committee meeting later this month.”
Hong Kong windsurfer Hayley Chan determined to book Tokyo spot
The coach had planned to use two overseas events as the internal selection – the World Cup in Miami and the European Championships in Portugal – but both have been ruled out because of air travel restrictions and the pandemic still raging in those areas.
“We have stated clearly that the selection has to be completed before this month as the athletes also have to be mentally prepared for the Games. We can’t make the selection too late,” said association executive director Yu Wing-ho.
“In fact, many of the windsurfers have already turned to the new equipment in preparation for the 2024 Games in Paris and it will be difficult to find athletes even if we can proceed with the selection.”
Chan and Cheng are the most experienced windsurfers in the Hong Kong team. Chan represented Hong Kong at the 2012 London Games and finished 12th, despite having her spleen removed after a serious injury suffered during pre-Olympic training in England. . The silver medallist at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia celebrated her 29-year-old birthday this week.
Windsurfer Hayley Chan reignites career for Olympic challenge
Cheng will also be making his second Olympic attempt after his debut at the 2016 Rio Games where he finished eighth among 36 boardsailors. He also clinched a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
