Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards avoids Cheung Ka-long vs Siobhan Haughey battle, as organisers separate men’s and women’s prizes
- Fencer Cheung won Olympic gold in 2021 while swimmer Haughey took two silvers in Tokyo and set world record in women’s 200m freestyle
- Sports Stars Awards are given to the top five male and female athletes, from which the best men’s and women’s winners will be chosen
A potential face-off between an Olympic gold medallist and a world record holder has been avoided with organisers of the Cathay 2021 Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards separating the “best of the best” prize into men’s and women’s categories.
Hong Kong enjoyed unprecedented sporting success in 2021 with fencer Cheung Ka-long winning gold in the men’s foil, one of six medals for the city at the Tokyo Games.
Swimmer Siobhan Haughey won two silver medals in Tokyo, in the women’s 200 metres freestyle and 100m freestyle, and also set a short-course 200m freestyle world record at December’s World Championships in Abu Dhabi.
“Thanks to stellar achievements from Hong Kong athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, the 14th National Games, National Games for Persons with Disabilities and more, sports has taken the city by storm,” organisers said in a press release on Saturday.
“For years, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee has organised the HKSSA to not only recognise athletes’ efforts and contributions in their field, but also to promote sports to every member of the society.”
In previous years, a single best of the best winner, male or female, was chosen by a judging panel and votes from the media and public. This year, five men and five women will be eligible for Sports Star of the Year Awards, from which one male and one female athlete will be given the best of the best titles.
Cheung and Haughey are favourites for the men’s and women’s titles respectively with a number of other athletes also in the running.
A total of 66 nominations from 33 sports associations have been received in the following categories: Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards for Men (five winners); Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards for Women (five winners); Best of the Best Hong Kong Sports Stars Award for Men, Best of the Best Hong Kong Sports Stars Award for Women; Hong Kong Sports Stars Award For Team Only Sport; and Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards For Team Event.
Among those nominated for the women’s award is snooker player Ng On-yee, the former world No 1 and three-time world champion who won the Eden Masters in England last year in her only tournament on the Women’s World Tour.
“I’m glad to be nominated in such difficult a year with many competitions cancelled. It’s been a very impressive year for Hong Kong sports and some record-breaking results in the Olympic Games,” Ng, a past winner who is back to training after 21 days of quarantine, said.
“This has created attention for the athletes, and I hope the momentum continues with the public’s support.”
To boost support among the public, a video clip was made featuring tenpin bowler Wu Siu-hong, gymnast Charlie Chan, and under-23 football players Cheng Tsz-sum, Jesse Yu Joy-yin and Choy Tsz-to.
The awards are organised by the SF&OC, Leisure and Cultural Services Department and supported by Cathay, Fila and the Shun Hing Group.
Other nominated men’s athletes include Angus Ng ka-long (badminton), gymnast Shek Wai-hung, table tennis player Wong Chun-ting, triathlete Oscar Coggins and golfer Kho Taichi.
Among the women’s nominees are Haughey, Ng, two-time Olympic bronze medallist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai, karate Olympic bronze winner Grace Lau Mo-sheung and table tennis player Doo Hoi-kem.
The team only contenders include the Hong Kong rugby sevens team, the South China basketball team and the women’s handball squad.
Team event nominees include the Hong Kong mixed doubles badminton pair of Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet, the men’s cycling time trial team, the fencing men’s foil team, the physically disabled boccia team and the women’s squash team.
