Short-track speed skater Sui Xin stands best hope for Hong Kong making Winter Olympics Games after two rounds
- Former mainlander ranks 42nd in 500 metres, where 32 skaters will qualify for 2022 Beijing Games
- Two more rounds in Europe later this month will complete qualification
Short-track speed skater Sui Xin remains the best hope of securing Hong Kong a spot at the forthcoming Winter Olympic Games after the completion of two out of four rounds at the World Cup series, the designated qualifiers.
The 24-year-old Sui is currently ranked 42nd in the men’s 500-metre classification, where a maximum quota of 32 racers will make it to Beijing when the 2022 Games take place in February.
The result is also the best among the three Hong Kong athletes, who have competed so far at the World Cup series over the three distances of the event, including the 1,000m and 1,500m events.
Another Hong Kong skater, Kwok Tsz-fung’s best result is 61st place in the 1,500m, while Sidney Chu’s best is 74th in the same distance. The maximum quota for the 1,000m is also 32 while four more qualify for the 1,500m.
“There are still two more rounds of the World Cup in Europe this month before the qualification ends and therefore it is too early to talk about the final results,” said a spokesman for the Hong Kong Skating Union. “Sui is strong in the short distance but must improve in order to obtain Olympic qualification.”