Hong Kong to send second largest squad to Olympics with 44 athletes meeting the benchmark
- Swimming has the biggest representation with nine athletes, with the possibility of one or two more
- Hong Kong sent 49 athletes to 1988 Seoul Games when qualification was not required
Race walker Ching Siu-nga has qualified through her world ranking in the women’s 20km walk with World Athletics closing the entry on June 30, while hurdler Chan Chung-wang received a wild card as no Hong Kong male athlete was able to make it to the Games by either the entry standard or the world ranking pathway.
“This is reward for the hard work and effort by Hong Kong athletes, despite the affects of the pandemic,” said chef de mission Pui Kwan-kay. “There may be the possibility of adding one or two more athletes to the delegation but already the figure is a great success.
“They will now have to face a real challenge in Tokyo and we wish them a successful campaign. It will not be an easy task of winning an Olympic medal, as we all know, but at least they should aim at breaking their own records with the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with the world’s best.”
Hong Kong sent a 49-member squad to the 1988 Seoul Olympics when most of the events did not require any qualification process. The Hong Kong Olympic Committee decided the number.
But athletes now have to go through tough competitions before qualifying and the pandemic has made it more difficult for Hong Kong athletes because many have been deprived of competing overseas.