Paris Olympics: Hong Kong triathlete Jason Ng wins race to qualify for Games, teammate gets hypothermia
- Ng beats Kazakh rival Ayan Beisenbayev to place in France after a months-long qualifying battle
- Swimming leg in Kazakhstan should have been cancelled because of ice-cold water temperature, coach says as Oscar Coggins suffers
Hong Kong triathlete Jason Ng Tai-long has qualified for the Paris Olympics after enduring a freezing swim that his coach said should have been cancelled in Kazakhstan on Saturday.
Ng overcame the cold conditions to finish fourth in the Asia Triathlon Cup event in Burabay and edge Kazakhstan’s Ayan Beisenbayev for a place at the Games.
The duo had been locked in an Olympic qualification battle for months, competing for the remaining “new flag” berth, reserved for the highest-ranked Asian nation or region not already represented in France.
The Kazakh needed a podium finish in his home country to overtake Ng, but he could manage only 10th place.
“It’s difficult for me to process everything that’s going on at the moment,” Ng said. “I’m so thankful to everyone who’s supported me.
“All our hard work over the last few months has paid off and I’m grateful we got the right result on the day.