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Au and Zhang Honoured Outstanding Junior Athletes
(15 June 2007)
Squash player Au Wing-chi and tennis player Zhang
Ling have been honoured the Hong Kong Sports Institute
Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards titles for the
first quarter of 2007 following their outstanding
performance during the period.
18-year-old Au Wing-chi won a gold medal in the
women's individual at the Hoe Hin White Flower
Ointment Asian Junior Squash Championships held
in February in Hong Kong. The event featured 46
promising players from nine countries/districts
including Japan, Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
This has been the third time Au got the Award.
"I am pleased to become a three-time winner of
the Award and would like to thank the coaches
and teammates who have been helping me over the
years," said Au, a recipient for the first quarters
of 2004 and 2005, at the presentation.
The young player has been identified to join
the sport after participating in the Searching
for New Sport Stars Programme in 2001, and first
represented Hong Kong to participate in the Asian
Junior Championships two years later and won a
bronze medal in team's event. In 2005, she paired
up with Chan Ho-ling, Chiu Ka-kei and Leung Shin-nga
to win a gold medal at the Women's World Junior
Team Championships held in Belgium, a historical
world junior title for Hong Kong squash.
17-year-old Zhang Ling snatched a gold medal
in the women's singles and a silver medal in the
women's doubles at the Chief Minister's Cup ITF
- Group 1 in Malaysia, and further captured a
gold medal in the women's singles at the 18th
Mitsubishi-Lancer International Junior Championships
- Group 1 held in the Philippines, earning her
the first Outstanding Junior Athlete title.
Zhang started to play the sport at nine under
the guidance of her parents and has undergone
formal training three years later. In 2005, she
first represented Hong Kong to take part in the
ITF tournament.
"The Awards scheme is an important morale booster
to local junior athletes as we know that all our
hard work and effort would be recognised. Although
there is still a long way to go, I will work harder
in future and hopefully I can reach top 30 in
the world ranking during my sporting life," she
said.
A prize presentation was held today (Friday)
where the winners each received a cash prize of
HK$2,500, sports gears voucher worth HK$2,500
and a certificate. In addition, five athletes
including badminton players Chan Hung-yung and
Tse Ying-suet, squash player Chan Ho-ling, as
well as triathletes Lo Ching-hin and Hui Wai-sum
were each presented a certificate of merit to
recognise their outstanding performance.
Presented by the Hong Kong Sports Institute with
the support from the Sports Federation & Olympic
Committee of Hong Kong, China and the Hong Kong
Sports Press Association, the Awards scheme aims
to recognise the achievement of local junior athletes
under the age of 19 on a quarterly basis.
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Enlarge>
Janet Hardisty (third to left), General Manger
and Henry Chan (second to left), Vice President
of the Hong Kong Tennis Association receive prizes
from Hu Fa-kuang (left), Vice-President, Sports
Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong,
China and Dr Chung Pak-kwong (right), Chief Executive
of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, on behalf of
the Awards' winner Zhang Ling.
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Enlarge>
Guests and coaches congratulate the Awards' winner
Au Wing-chi (centre). (From left) Karl Mak, Executive
Director of Hong Kong Squash, Chu Hoi-kun, Executive
Committee Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Press
Association, Hu Fa-kuang, Vice-President, Sports
Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong,
China, Au Wing-chi, Mrs Au, Dr Chung Pak-kwong
(right), Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sports
Institute, and Tony Choi, Head Squash Coach of
the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
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Enlarge>
The Awards' winner Au Wing-chi (right) and athletes
receiving certificates of merit, including (from
left) triathlete Hui Wai-sum, badminton player
Tse Ying-suet, squash player Chan Ho-ling and
triathlete Lo Ching-hin.
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Issued by the Hong Kong Sports Institute
For further information, please contact Debby
Wang, Public Affairs Officer, on 2681-6283.
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