HK Expecting Better Results at East Asian GamesHong Kong is expecting better performance by its athletes during next week's East Asian Games in Osaka, Japan."We do not have specified target for the games, but we did enlist all the best athletes we had. In return, we are expecting the best result," said Victor Hui Chun Fui, Chief of the Mission of Chinese Hong Kong's Delegation to the Third East Asian Games. Hong Kong finished the seventh out of nine delegations during the last games in Pusan, South Korea, in 1997. With one gold, five silvers, and four bronzes, Hong Kong was just ahead of Guam and Macao on the overall standing, behind Chinese mainland, Japan, South Korea, Kazakstan, Chinese Taipei and Mongolia. In an ambitious effort to catch up with the rapid development made by its neighbors, then the Chinese Hong Kong Amateur Olympic Committee deleted the word "Amateur" from the title of the organization. "We have some best athletes in Asia, especially in bowling, Wushu, and swimming," said Hui. Hui Cheung Kwok, the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games gold medalist in bowling, surprised the fans by claiming the First World Master Bowling Championship in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on 25 last month. Hong Kong will present a strong Wushu team leading by Asian champions Li Fai (female) and To Yu Hang, as well as Lo Nga Ching (female) runner-up at last East Asian Games. In the swimming pool, Asian champion Mark Kwok Kin Ming is Hong Kong's another gold medal hopeful. Some 124 officials and athletes headed by The Hon. Timothy T.T.Fok, Chairman of Hong Kong's Olympic Committee will compete in ten items such as athletics, bowling, gymnastics, handball, hockey (performance program), judo, rowing (performance program), swimming, Taekwondo and Wushu. The Third East Asian Games are slated for May 19-24. The first two games were held by Shanghai, China and Pusan, South Korea. |
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