Hong Kong cyclists out to maintain perfect medal record at National Games in Shaanxi
- Hong Kong cyclists have won gold in every Games since the city first took part in the 1997 Shanghai Games after reunification with mainland
- Star rider Sarah Lee Wai-sze to head strong contingent that also includes Leung Chun-wing, Ko Siu-wai, Leung Ka-yu, Yang Qianyu, Leung Po-yee and Yeung Cho-yiu
Hong Kong has never missed out on a gold medal in cycling since Wong Kam-po won the men’s individual road race at the Shanghai Games, three months after the handover of sovereignty to the mainland.
Leung was the omnium champion on the track at the last Games in Tianjin four years ago when Hong Kong also won the women’s madison through Yang Qianyu and Pang Yao.
Hong Kong win cycling gold, silver and bronze at the National Games
Leung has been training in China in preparation for the Games since January after his Tokyo Olympic dream was shattered following a 17th-place finish in the qualifiers. Only the world’s top-16 pairs made it to the Olympics.
“The National Games is the biggest event of the year other than the Olympics and that’s why we have put so much effort into it,” said Leung, who represented Hong Kong in the omnium at the 2016 Rio Games. “We are so happy to get the opportunity to train in China, especially under the pandemic. The competition will never be easy as there are many new faces from different provinces and we will be given a tough test.”
Other than the track events, Leung has also entered the 100-kilometre team time trial and the individual road race, an event which Wong won three times: in 1997, at the 2001 Games in Guangdong and the 2009 Games in Shandong. Wong also came third at the 2005 Games in Jiangsu.
“There are many unforeseeable factors in the individual road race but, of course, Hong Kong is always a key contender in the event,” said Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak. “We were told the course has been changed from mainly mountain areas to more flat roads, which gives us some additional advantages with riders like Leung and Ko Siu-wai, who are strong sprinters. Our women’s riders are also strong in the road and can definitely put up a fight.”
Yang Qianyu was the 2017 Asian champion in the women’s road race and finished fourth in the Asian Games the following year.
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But the cycling chief is confident that Hong Kong can its perfect gold medal record in the track events.
“Sarah Lee is always a force to be reckoned with in the individual sprinting events, while her combination with Yeung Cho-yiu in the team sprint may also create some surprises, as Yeung is fast in the first lap due to her light body weight. In the endurance events, our upcoming youngster Lee Sze-wing will be trying to perform well on her debut while our madison pairing of Yang and Pang remain the favourites as the defending champions.
“We can’t promise that we can keep winning gold medals at the Games, but all our riders will be out to give their best as it’s not easy to have competition opportunities during the pandemic. We must treasure these opportunities.”
