The Hong Kong billiard sports team won an impressive five medals (2 gold, 2 silver and a bronze) in March. Ng On-yee and Ip Wan-yin finished second and third respectively at the WLBSA EDEN Classic in Derbyshire held on 5 - 6 March before heading to Leeds for the World Championships.

There were two gold medals, in the ladies pairs (Ng and Wan Ka-kai) and the mixed pairs (Ip and Cheung Ka-wai), but Ng relinquished her world champion crown in the singles final, losing to perennial rival and 10-time former champion Reanne Evans.

“There were obviously mixed feelings,” HKSI’s Head Billiard Sports Coach Wayne Griffiths admitted. “There is no doubt that our overall goal was for Hong Kong to retain the World Championships. This was not achieved, but On-yee gave an impressive defence of her title. 

“On-yee and Reanne Evans were not at their best in the event, but this just shows how much pressure they were both under - On-yee to retain the title and Reanne to regain it. 

“For me I feel that On-yee’s result was a great effort. This is probably as much pressure as she has ever faced in a three-day period.

“Defending her crown so stoically while having one eye on being tested on the very toughest stage at the men's world championships the very next day was a commendable effort. 

“The fact that the men's event took place on the day after her final defeat will have had some influence on her - despite her efforts, and our team's efforts, to avoid that.”

Ng took on English professional player Peter Lines in the qualifying tournament for the men’s World Championships, while Cheung Ka-wai was also in action, having been invited after winning the World U18 Championships. 

Though both lost to their much more experienced opponents, it was a valuable learning experience, said Griffiths.

“On-yee was obviously very disappointed to relinquish her crown but she can see some positives that she can build on,” he added. 

“Playing the next day against Peter Lines was a big ask but she learned a lot and it has given her a taste for something she definitely wants to experience more in the future (playing in men's events). 

“It is clear that she has a lot of work to do but she is motivated to move forward and was on the practice table the same day she landed back in Hong Kong.”

Though Hong Kong couldn’t make it a clean sweep of gold medals, Griffiths was delighted with the two secured in the pairs events - especially a first ever win in the mixed competition, which features full-time male professionals.

“On-yee can also take some heart from the fact that she defended her world doubles crown - this time with fast-improving Wan Ka-kai, having previously won with So Man-yan,” he said. 

“The two girls were very pleased with this result and it gave them both a good platform for the main event. Wan went on to reach the quarter final of the singles event - losing to On-yee for the second WLBSA event in a row.

“The mixed pairs were perhaps even more pleasing as Hong Kong has never managed to win this event before. There are many full-time professional players from the men's tour playing in this event so the standard is very high. 

“For Ip and Cheung to overcome a strong field and come away with the title was very pleasing. This win, with the ladies doubles victory, made the week relatively successful. Now, we are already working on what needs to improve to secure the world championships again in 2017.

“Overall however, I was very pleased with the team's performance - all four athletes did extremely well and all players came away with a version of a world championship. Results like this are so important to keep motivation and learning levels high.”

Cyclist Lee Wai-sze continued her build-up to Rio at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships held on 2 - 6 March in London, England, which is the same velodrome where she won the Olympic bronze in 2012.

Her hopes in the keirin were ended after a nasty crash, but she managed to recover in time to win her first World Championships medal in three years, securing silver in the 500m time trial.

Lee looked set to secure gold until the last rider out, Anastasiia Voinova, beat her time. The time trial is not on the Olympic programme however - Lee will compete in the keirin and sprint in Rio.

She said she remained confident of a medal in Brazil despite not contending in those events at the Worlds.

“I always believe in myself,” said Lee, who at the time of writing is third in the UCI world keirin rankings and fourth in the sprint.

“The world championships is just one of the many events building up to the Rio Games and the result has little bearing on the forthcoming Olympics.

“Indeed, there is still five months to go and anything can happen. My coach said even if there is only a 1 per cent chance of a medal, you still have to go for it and I am sure I have more than a 1 per cent chance of winning.”

Leung Yuk-wing won a bronze medal at the BISFed World Individual Championships held on 19 - 26 March in Beijing, China, maintaining his remarkable record of finishing in the top 3 at every event in the last two years.

The boccia Athens Paralympics gold medallist was the favourite for the title but suffered defeat to London 2012 silver medallist Zheng Yuansen of China in the semis.

Leung was also nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sportsperson of the year award in March for his contributions to the game.

The Hong Kong badminton team won a bronze medal at the YONEX Dutch Junior held on 2 - 6 March in Haarlem, the Netherlands.

The Hong Kong karatedo team won 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at the WKF Karate1 Premier League - Rotterdam held on 19 - 20 March in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The Hong Kong tennis team won 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at the ITF Asia 14 & Under Development Championships - Division 1 held on 15 - 25 March in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The Hong Kong tennis team won a bronze medal at the 27^th Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup (I) ITF Junior Tennis Championship (Grade 1) held on 22 - 27 March in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The Hong Kong windsurfing team won 1 gold and 1 silver medal at the ASAF Asian Championship held on 5 - 12 March in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Lo Sin-lam