Asian Games: Hong Kong athletics officials enter 31 for squad, but want more time after Covid-hit selection period

2018 Games medallist Vera Lui to head the list, along with race walker Jessica Ching and distance runner Christy Yiu

But there have been no domestic competitions for six months because of city’s strict

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Vera Lui celebrates after she won a bronze medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2018 Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:30am, 5 Apr 2022

Hong Kong athletics officials have submitted a list of 31 athletes for the city’s 2022 Asian Games, but want selection delayed for a month because preparations have been disrupted by Covid-19.

Among those on the long list are Vera Lui Lai-yiu, the only track and field medal winner for Hong Kong at the last Games in Jakarta four years ago, race walker Jessica Ching Siu-nga, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian, and distance runner Christy Yiu Kit-ching.

However, women’s 100m Hong Kong record holder Lam On-ki, and men’s 100m hurdles record holder Chan Chung-wang, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian, are both expected to miss the Games in Hangzhou in September.

Lam, who set her 10.62-second record at the 2019 Asian Championships in Doha, has been nursing a foot injury, while Chan is busy with his university studies and has lowered his training intensity.

From left: Vera Lui, Mui Ching-yeung and Cecilia Yeung are all in overseas training and competitions amid pandemic situation in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

The city took 24 track and field athletes to the Games in Jakarta, but many athletes have made massive strides recently, meaning more are meeting the qualifying criteria.

“One of the criteria is to finish top two-third in an international sports event sanctioned by the international or Asian federations on the condition that there was a minimum of four competitors and it’s not too difficult for the athletes to make it with our standard,” Simon Yeung Sai-mo, Association of Athletic Affiliates selection committee director, said.