Tokyo Olympics: Lee Lai-shan has high hopes for record medal haul by Hong Kong athletes
- The 1996 Atlanta gold medallist says gymnast Stone Shek, windsurfers and table tennis players are podium hopes alongside Sarah Lee, Siobhan Haughey and Vivian Kong
- Hong Kong go into the Tokyo Olympics with more medal prospects than ever before as they look for a first gold in 25 years
The 50-year-old former windsurfer, who made history for Hong Kong with her gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, has identified a number of possible medal sources, including track cycling favourite Sarah Lee Wai-sze and others who may have an outside chance of standing on the podium.
Sarah Lee, the 2012 London keirin bronze medallist, swimmer Siobhan Haughey, fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai and karate exponent Grace Lau Mo-sheung have long been the recognised medal favourites given their past performances and world rankings.
San San, though, has high hopes for athletes in other sports who are capable of overcoming the odds and winning medals.
“Our table tennis, badminton and windsurfing athletes also stand a good chance of winning medals,” San San told the Post. “Our gymnast, [Stone] Shek Wai-hung also has a good chance of a medal. The Hong Kong sporting scene is becoming more exciting with significant improvements at all ends. I have been following local sports news closely and also keep in contact with some of the athletes.”
The former world champion is the first and only Hong Kong athlete to win an Olympic medal during colonial days. After the 1997 handover, Hong Kong collected two more medals – Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching’s silver in the men’s doubles table tennis in Athens 2004 and Sarah Lee’s bronze in 2012.