2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> Hong Kong> Content
Published: 02:40, August 09, 2021 | Updated: 11:23, August 09, 2021
HK's best-ever Olympics as city grabs six medals
By Gang Wen and Wang Zhan
Published:02:40, August 09, 2021 Updated:11:23, August 09, 2021 By Gang Wen and Wang Zhan

(From left to right) This photo collage shows Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long; swimmer Siobhan Haughey; table tennis team members Doo Hoi-kem, Lee Ho-ching and Minnie Soo Wai-yam; karate exponent Grace Lau Mo-sheung; and track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze. (ANDREW MEDICHINI, GREGORY BULL, KING CHEUNG, VINCENT THIAN, CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong athletes on Sunday wrapped up the city’s most successful performance at the Olympic Games so far, bagging a record six medals, as cycling legend Sarah Lee Wai-sze took the bronze in the women’s sprint event in Tokyo.

As the 17-day 2020 Tokyo Olympics ended, members of Hong Kong’s 46-member contingent had won one gold, two silver and three bronze medals, ranking 49th in the overall medals tally. Before the Tokyo Games, the city had secured had only secured three medals since its debut at the Olympics in 1952.

Lee, 34, dubbed Hong Kong’s “cycling goddess”, took the bronze in the sprint on the last day of the competitions in Tokyo after beating Emma Hinze of Germany. It was her second Olympics medal after having won a bronze medal in the women’s keirin event at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

Lee had to settle for the bronze after being beaten by Olena Starikova of Ukraine in the semi-finals earlier on Sunday. She took the bronze with a consummate showing over two races against Hinze.

Lee told reporters that with her latest bronze medal, she had realized “half of her dream”. Although the result wasn’t that ideal, she had tried her best and had no regrets.

Sarah Lee Wai-sze of Team Hong Kong, right, and Liubov Basova of Team Ukraine compete during the track cycling women's sprint at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Aug 8, 2021, in Izu, Japan. (CHRISTOPHER ENA / AP)

Summarizing the Hong Kong team’s brilliant performance at the Tokyo Games, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said many Hong Kong athletes have broken Hong Kong or their personal records, and many local residents are proud of them

The veteran athlete also said she had come under “huge pressure” after losing the chance to go for the gold medal. But, with the support of her team, her family and her fans, she overcame it.

Hong Kong residents had gathered at shopping malls across the city since 9 am with cheer sticks and banners to watch Lee in the sprint semi-final and bronze medal races via live telecasts. After Lee won the bronze, the crowds burst into applause.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who also watched the telecast at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, congratulated Lee, describing the cyclist as a “Hong Kong legend”.

ALSO READ: Lam expects good results from HK athletes at Tokyo Olympics

“She has shown that her competence and determination have passed the test of time, and she has become a Hong Kong legend with her brilliant results. All Hong Kong people are overjoyed at her achievements,” Lam said.

Lee is the first Hong Kong world champion in women’s cycling competitions. As a full-time athlete since 2004, she has brought honor to Hong Kong in the international sporting arena with outstanding results, including winning gold medals at various competitions in the Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018, as well as gold medals at the world championships in 2013 and 2019.

Hong Kong's women's table tennis team pose for photo with their coach after winning the bronze medal match against Germany at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Aug 5, 2021. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)

Summarizing the Hong Kong team’s brilliant performance at the Tokyo Games, Lam said many Hong Kong athletes have broken Hong Kong or their personal records, and many local residents are proud of them.

She said the Hong Kong athletes’ success is due to their relentless efforts and the support of the local community, noting that the SAR government had allocated HK$737 million (US$95 million) for the Hong Kong Sports Institute in the 2021-2022 financial year up about 42 percent from 2017-2018.

Grace Lau Mo-sheung of Hong Kong competes in the ranking round of the women's kata for karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (VINCENT THIAN / AP)

Lam hopes their historic performance could inject fresh momentum into the development of sports in Hong Kong, with more support from enterprises and residents, and greater enthusiasm for  sports.

There will also be several major sports events to be held in the short term, with Hong Kong taking part, including the 14th National Games, which will take place in Shaanxi Province in mid-September. Following the Tokyo Olympics, some Hong Kong athletes have gone to the Chinese mainland to prepare for the National Games.

Hong Kong’s dazzling performance at the Tokyo Games has fueled local residents’ enthusiasm for sports and brought hope for young athletes.

Gold medallist Hong Kong's Cheung Ka-Long celebrates on podium during the medal ceremony for the men’s individual foil during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on July 26, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)

After Cheung Ka-long won the city’s first ever gold medal in the men’s individual foil fencing event, the number of people who have registered for fencing classes has surged by up to 70 percent, according to the Hong Kong Fencing School.

“Cheung’s victory proves that Hong Kong people could shine in international competitions,” 13-year-old fencing trainee Szeto Tsz-wang told China Daily.

He said Cheung had turned defeat into victory calmly and that’s what every trainee should learn. Inspired by Cheung’s success, Szeto said he has decided to join the Hong Kong fencing team in future and participate in more international games.

Karate exponent Grace Lau Mo-sheung secured the city’s fifth medal when she won a bronze on Thursday, the same day Hong Kong's table tennis team defeated Germany to win the bronze medal in the women’s team event. 

Silver medalist Hong Kong's Siobhan Bernadette Haughey poses with her medal after the final of the women's 100m freestyle swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 30, 2021. (JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP)

Hong Kong swimming star Siobhan Haughey captured two silvers for the city.

REDA MORE: Cheung wins first Olympic fencing gold for Hong Kong

According to a recent survey, more than 70 percent of local residents interviewed agreed that Hong Kong should hold more international sports events, such as the Asian Youth Games and the FISU World University Games.

Chloe Xu contributed to this story

gangwen@chinadaily.com.cn

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !