ID: hksportsinstitute
Overwhelming Response to the Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards
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A.S. Watson Group/Hong Kong Sports Institute Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards scheme has received overwhelming response from local National Sports Associations who nominated a total of 17 up-and-coming athletes for the 2nd quarter's title, an encouraging figures when compared with 10 nominations in the first quarter. Among them, Chiu Chung-hei from table tennis, at 11, is the youngest candidate. Five other were past awards recipients – badminton players Wong Wai-hong and Yip Pui-yin, squash player Au Wing-chi, windsurfer Ma Kwok-po, and swimmer with intellectual disability Leung Shu-hang. Other athletes included in the prestigious list are sprinters Tang Yik-chun and Leung Hau-sze, cyclist Kwok Ho-ting, gymnasts Shek Wai-hung and Wong Hiu-ying, squash player Lee Ho-yin, tennis players Martin Sayer and Chan Wing-yau, windsurfer Chan Hei-man, boccia player Ching Yu-hey and swimmer with intellectual disability Chow Yuen-ying. In recent years, Hong Kong sport has been growing rapidly as a large number of youngsters are coming through the ranks. These young athletes will aim for more glory as they prepare for the forthcoming major competitions, including the 2006 Doha Asiad, 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2009 East Asian Games where Hong Kong will be the host. The Awards scheme, which was introduced by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) in 1999 with the support of the A.S. Watson Group since 2003, aims to recognise the achievement of local junior athletes on a quarterly basis. A judging panel, comprising one representative each from the HKSI, and two supporting organisations including the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and the Hong Kong Sports Press Association, will meet later to decide the winners. A prize presentation will be held afterwards with each recipient to be rewarded a cash prize of $2,500, sports gears voucher worth $2,500 and a certificate of merit. |