Paris Paralympics: Hong Kong’s swimming silver and wins in badminton, boccia on day 1
After swimmer Chan Yui-lam claims silver, top seed Chu Man-kai makes a winning start in men’s badminton
Hong Kong’s athletes got off to a positive start on day one of the Paris Paralympics, led by a silver medal for swimmer Chan Yui-lam.
Chan came second in the women’s 100 metres butterfly S14 behind Great Britain’s Poppy Maskill, getting on the podium after narrowly missing out at the last Paralympics in Tokyo three years ago.
“Tokyo was probably my most disappointing race,” the 20-year-old said. “So when I saw the same red starting blocks [as at] the Tokyo Paralympics, I told myself I was going to get a medal back, I was that determined.”
And there was more for Hongkongers to feel good about, with men’s badminton top seed Chu Man-kai getting off to a winning start against Krysten Coombs of Great Britain in his first singles SH6 Group A match.
A silver medallist from the last Games in Tokyo and a two-time Asian Games gold medallist, Chu prevailed 21-13, 19-21, 21-15 at the La Chapelle Arena.
Chu will face Sivarajan Solimalai of India next, before wrapping up the group stage against Indonesia’s Subhan Suban.
