Sixteen swimmers representing Hong Kong arrived in Melbourne on Friday for next week’s short-course Fina World Championships, with Siobhan Haughey’s achievements last year as their inspiration. Haughey, who 12 months ago in Abu Dhabi won gold in the 100 metres and 200m freestyle and broke the world record in the latter, is in the 16-strong squad in her own right, but her influence has had a powerful effect on the rest, according to Ng Cheuk-yin. Ng, 20, will be one of the busiest of the contingent next week, having qualified for three events in Australia – 50m and 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly – via July’s Hong Kong time trial, smashing city records in all of them. He hopes to lower those three marks again in Melbourne, and also has the 50m butterfly, which he had qualified for previously. “Seeing Siobhan break a world record and win golds last year proved that nothing is impossible,” Ng said. “We are all inspired to aim higher.” He, too, made his mark at the 2021 edition by setting five city records, in the 200m backstroke and four relays. “I’m not sure how many relays I’ll be in this time,” said Ng, who majors in sport management and management at the University of Georgia. “At the very least, I want to break Hong Kong records in all my individual events and hopefully make the semi-finals in both backstroke events.” Whereas most of the team flew to Australia from Hong Kong, Ng will arrive from the United States, where his recent performances have lifted his aspirations further. He finished 10th in the 100m and 11th in the 50m backstroke at last month’s World Cup in Indianapolis, then two weeks ago he set a personal best in the 100 yards backstroke at the Georgia Invitational meet, which placed him 13th in the national college rankings. “I feel more confidence and strength now, all thanks to my teammates, who supported me and reminded me to trust myself and trust the coaches when I was so depressed in my freshman year,” Ng said. In Melbourne, he will be in action next Tuesday on day one, when he has the 100m backstroke then the 50m fly. Hayden Kwan is eager to make his mark in an international pool and will compete in the 200m individual medley on Tuesday, with his favourite event, the 200m backstroke, still to come. The 20-year-old backstroke specialist, who was born in the US to Hong Kong parents, became eligible to represent the city in August. Another backstroker, the veteran Stephanie Au Hoi-shun, will race in the first day’s 100m, hoping to break her personal best after making some technical adjustments in the past few months. Haughey, meanwhile, has opted against competing in an extra event such as the 400m freestyle – in which she won a World Cup gold in October – to focus on defending her titles, with 100m heats taking place next Wednesday and those for the 200m following on the Sunday.