Tokyo 2020: Hong Kong’s Angus Ng targets Olympic badminton quarter-finals then ‘we’ll see what happens’

Hong Kong badminton star Angus Ng Ka-long said he would build on the experience gained from his Olympic debut in Rio, setting his sights on reaching the quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020. At the badminton squad’s final meeting with the media before their departure, the 27-year-old – one of the four members of the team along with Tse Ying-suet and Tang Chun-man in the mixed doubles and Cheung Ngan-yi in the women’s singles – said he was no longer the new kid on the block like he was five years ago. “Reaching the quarter-finals will definitely be the target this time,” said Ng, the Olympic men’s singles eighth seed who hopes to leave for Tokyo in two weeks’ time. “In Rio, everything was new to me and everything was a bonus as a debutant. I felt very excited under such a tense atmosphere and as a young player learned as much as possible. “The journey ended when I lost in the round of 16 but it did help me a lot playing in the biggest tournament in the world. Now five years have gone and I have of course become more mature. “I have played a lot more tournaments and also made it into the world’s top 10. My seeding has guaranteed I won’t meet a player who has a higher ranking than me in the group stage and I expect to reach the quarter-finals and then we’ll see what happens next.” Hong Kong’s Angus Ng bolsters his World Tour finals bid Head coach Tim He Yiming praised the progress Ng has made since the Rio Games. “In Rio, he still needed the coaches to help resolve many problems on the court but now he makes his own decisions in many situations,” said the coach. “He has grown a lot technically and mentally. The target is to reach the last eight as his ranking says and then we’ll see how he performs. “We have been training quite a lot on improving his physical fitness recently and Ng has responded very well. He is equipped with the quality to fight in Tokyo.” Ng also paid tribute to the arrival of former China national team player Du Pengyu, once the world No 3, as his coach for the Tokyo Games. “He was a top-class player before and can help me a lot not only on the technical side but also how to prepare for a major tournament and recovery,” Ng said. “He did share me with his own experiences and also that of other top Chinese players of his era such as Lin Dan. It really helps and I have become more stable and have showed marked improvement with his advice.” Hong Kong’s mixed doubles pair reach Dubai final, brighten mood in camp Ng will be 30 when the next Olympic Games take place in Paris in 2024, when he may be past his best. “The Tokyo Games will be my biggest chance in the Olympics and therefore I must make the most of my golden age to perform. No one knows what will happen in Paris especially because I will probably pass my peak by that time,” he said. Also not sure about Paris is mixed doubles player Tse, who will be making her third appearance in the Olympics after London and Rio. “I played in the women’s doubles both times and it will be my first Olympic Games in the mixed doubles,” said Tse, who is partnering Tang for the Tokyo Olympics. She once reached world No 2 and snatched a bronze medal in the World Championships and silver at the Asian Games. “My first Olympic Games was nothing more than a learning experience and in Rio my partner suffered a serious ankle injury before the Games. I am so happy to have the third chance and of course it will also be the biggest one. “I am also thankful that the Tokyo Games were pushed back for one year as I suffered a shoulder injury at the 2018 Hong Kong Open and it takes time to heal and recover. I am already 30 and of course the Paris Games can hardly be my target. This should be my last Olympic Games and I will do the best I can.” Her younger partner, 26-year-old Tang, is looking forward to his maiden Olympic Games. “It’s the dream of every athlete to play in the Olympics, especially if there’s a chance of winning a medal,” said Tang. “I am so happy to have such a quality partner to help me all the way through to reach the Tokyo Games. I am also taking advantage of having an extended period [because of the pandemic] so that I can have more time for preparation. No place for China No 1 in Tokyo 2020 tennis team “Although we have suffered from a lack of competition since last year, we did have many simulation matches during this period and also analysed our opponents through video footage. We are ready to go.” Coach He said Tang had plenty of room for improvement. “He still young and is improving,” said the coach. “The pair have a proven record in many big events but the mixed doubles is as tough as other disciplines. They have beaten the Games’ fifth to eighth seeds before but it will be tough against the top four teams who have been very solid recently. “It will certainly be the last Olympics for Tse and we hope the pair can perform against any of their opponents.” China’s Nina Schultz to fulfil grandmother’s Olympic dream Cheung Ngan-yi narrowly missed out on Rio after losing her place in the women’s singles to veteran Yip Pui-yin in the final stages of qualifying for the 2016 Games. “I have learned from the experience and I am now more mature and better able to cope with different situations,” said the 28-year-old. “But there were still some mixed feelings when I learned I would play in Tokyo after what happened five years ago. “I won’t think too much about results as long as I can perform to my best on the court. I also want to thank my coach, Wang Chen, who has given me a lot of advice, especially on how to keep mentally strong as we approach the Olympics.” Wang, the former world No 1, became the women’s team coach after her retirement. She reached the quarter-finals in the women’s singles at the 2004 Athens Games.