Hong Kong triathletes Ng and Brown ‘more motivated than ever’ ahead of World Cup event in city
- Jason Ng and Bailee Brown will lead team’s charge for glory at Triathlon World Cup this month
- City team also has Olympic qualification in their sights, although Brown says Paris Games spot would ‘be a bonus’
Hong Kong’s Bailee Brown and Jason Ng Tai-long are “more motivated than ever” as they prepare to race in front of a home crowd at the World Triathlon Cup this month.
The Asian Games bronze medallists will lead their team’s charge along the city’s iconic waterfront, as they battle for vital Olympic qualification points, as well as a spot on the podium.
And the pair will be hoping the energy of a home crowd, which Ng said could not be explained by science, will help them improve on the second and third places they managed at the Asia Triathlon Cup in the city last November.
“I feel really motivated this season and if you enjoy what you do, it’s easy,” Brown said. “It’s nice to be at home and have the Hong Kong support – Hong Kong people are so amazing.”
For Brown and Ng, the event has an extra level of competition as their direct rivals for a spot at the Paris Olympics, Kazakhstan’s Ekaterina Shabalina and Ayan Beisenbayev, will both be racing on March 24.
“I think the way for me to get the best out of myself is to just focus on my own preparation,” Ng said. “It could be an athlete from anywhere in the world, I’m just focusing on putting my best foot forward. I think that will get me the biggest chance of qualification.”