Coach queries relevance of Hong Kong’s first 2026 Asian Beach Games medal
Aquathlon mixed relay quartet of Bailee Brown, Wong Tsz-to, Hilda Choi Yan-yin and Mark Yu Shing-him take silver behind China
Andrew Wright struggled to interpret the significance of Hong Kong claiming aquathlon silver from the Asian Beach Games on Saturday, but acknowledged his satisfaction that “we are one of the few sports that consistently delivers” for the city.
Currently in Yunnan province in mainland China for an altitude camp with leading triathlete Oscar Coggins, head coach Wright monitored from afar as Bailee Brown, Wong Tsz-to, Hilda Choi Yan-yin and Mark Yu Shing-him combined to break Hong Kong’s medal duck on the fifth day of competition in Sanya, Hainan Island.
The city quartet finished in one hour, two minutes and 35 seconds, behind a dominant China team that cruised home in 1.01.44. Japan managed 1.03.54 for bronze.
“It’s classed as a major Games for Hong Kong, but there’s no funding or anything significant [as a reward], so … in simple terms [the medal] doesn’t mean anything,” Wright said.
“But when you’re going to a government-funded major Games and you medal, they like it, so we’re all happy.”
Wright’s triathlon programme delivered a 2023 Asian Games medal and a pair of podium finishes from last year’s National Games, either side of providing a 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier in Jason Ng Tai-long.