Tokyo Games: Cheuk Ming-ho smashes two Hong Kong records to boost Olympic hopes as swimmers return to the pool
- The 18-year-old prodigy sets new marks in the 200 metre and 800 metre freestyle races, both within Olympic B standards
- Siobhan Haughey continues her world-class form with her 100 metre and 200 metres freestyle within the A qualification times
Teenager Cheuk Ming-ho emerged as a front-runner for a place in the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday after an outstanding performance at the Hong Kong Time Trials – his first competition in more than 14 months because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 18-year-old prodigy shattered two Hong Kong records, in the men’s 200 metre and 800 metre freestyle, at the Hong Kong Sports Institute to make the Olympic B qualification marks in both races. Along with another B qualification in the 400 metre freestyle he achieved in early 2020, Cheuk now has made the Olympic grade in three events.
Should no other Hong Kong male swimmer attain an A standard when the qualification campaign ends this June, Cheuk is likely to be considered by world governing body Fina for a wild card into the Tokyo Games.
Despite an easing of the Covid-19 situation in Hong Kong, the trial still took place under strict safety measures at the Institute’s swimming pool in Fo Tan. More than 30 elite swimmers under the Sports Institute’s tier A programme were allowed to take part in the event held behind closed doors. Officials needed to take Covid-19 tests before the event while no spectators nor media were allowed in.
“This is his first race in more than a year and Cheuk showed strong determination to get back into competition,” said Chen Jianhong, the Institute’s head swimming coach. “He has trained very hard over the period when the Institute was under a closed-camp situation and more importantly he can fully display what he learned in training during the competition.