Tokyo 2020: Hong Kong windsurfers to take advantage of superior Enoshima venue data – ‘we’ve been doing our homework’

Hayley Chan and Michael Cheng reflect on year’s extra preparation and course familiarity ahead of postponed Games

Head coach Chan: ‘It’s a really advantageous position to be in but it’s still an important test for us all’

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Hong Kong men’s and women’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games windsurfing representative athletes Hayley Chan Hei-man and Michael Cheng Chun-leung at a training session in Tai Mei Tuk, Tai Po in June. Photos: SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Published: 8:00am, 29 Jun 2021Updated: 10:48pm, 29 Jun 2021

Hong Kong’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games windsurfing representatives may not have competed in over 18 months, but are confident their deep familiarity with the course and climate will give them the upper hand.

Hayley Chan Hei-man and Michael Cheng Chun-leung will be competing in their second Games after they confirmed their spots via the Windsurfing Association of Hong Kong’s Covid-19 postponed internal selection last year. They helped the city qualify for the respective women’s and men’s RS:X slots at the world championships in 2019.

Alongside head coach Chan King-yin and coach Cheng Kwok-fai, they will soon travel to the small Japanese island of Enoshima in Sagami Bay, Kanagawa prefecture, around 50km south of Tokyo. They met with media for the final time at the Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre last week.

“We’ve been to Enoshima before and there was one year where there was a typhoon before a competition. It was really difficult on the first day so we need to be ready for all scenarios,” said Chan, who miraculously competed at the London 2012 Games despite a training accident forcing her to spend five weeks in hospital weeks ahead of the event. She finished 12th.

Hong Kong windsurfing athlete Hayley Chan Hei-man prepares her fin at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups in Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre in Tai Po in June.

Chan, who missed out on qualifying for Rio 2016, was on the verge of quitting but has since doubled down on the sport that has seen her win Asian Games gold.“I‘m very honoured to have the opportunity again. The last time in London there were lots of obstacles and there were times I could have given up. I’m so thankful for everyone who kept me motivated over the years,” said an emotional Chan.