Asian Games postponement could be blessing in disguise for some Hong Kong athletes, selectors say
- Sunday’s event at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground was meant to be last opportunity for athletes to stake claim for Games squad
- Now likes of Priscilla Cheung will have more time to prove themselves after event was delayed until next year
Hong Kong athletics bosses believe the decision to postpone the Hangzhou Asian Games in September could be a blessing in disguise for the likes of high-jumper Priscilla Cheung Ching-laam.
Cheung, who turned 21 on Sunday, won her event at the Hong Kong Athletics Series 2022, clearing a height of 1.70 metres, some way short of her personal best of 1.76m.
The birthday girl, who also came first in last weekend’s trial event at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground with a jump of 1.75m, said she had been aiming to clear that mark but her “back started hurting last Thursday”.
“I aimed to jump higher than I did last week at the Hong Kong Trial, so I trained even harder, and my back started hurting last Thursday,” Cheung said.
“My back didn’t bother me much today, but when I tried 1.74m, my left ankle hurt, but I don’t think it’s a big deal; hopefully, with a break next week, I’ll have a good jump in the middle of this month.”
Chung Wai-yan finished second with a leap of 1.70m on her third attempt, while Wong Yuen-nam finished third with a leap of 1.65m.
Sunday’s event was intended to give athletes a chance to prove themselves before the city’s Olympic Committee finalised the squad for the Games.