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A total of HK$898,700, the second payment batch of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) Scholarship Athletes Special Incentive Fund (Fund), has been granted to 144 athletes who returned with excellent results during the period from July to December 2006.

The Fund, administered by the HKSI with financial support from the Government's Facility and Programme Donations Scheme and the Grantham Scholarships Fund, was launched last year with an aim to provide cash incentives to athletes who win medals at various levels of international competitions and attain the qualification for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Of the 144 recipients from 18 sports, athletes from fencing, table tennis and cycling received the highest cash incentives amounting to HK$144,000, HK$99,200 and HK$97,900 respectively. Recipients included medallists of Doha Asian Games and other international sporting competitions such as badminton players Chan Yan-kit, Wang Chen and Yip Pui-yin, cyclists Cheung King-wai and Wong Kam-po, fencer Chow Tsz-ki, rowers Ho Ming-cheung, Lee Ka-man, Leung Chun-shek and Lok Kwan-hoi, squash player Chiu Wing-yin, swimmer Sze Hang-yu, table tennis players Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching, triathlete Lee Chi-wo, windsurfer Chan King-yin, wushu performers Hei Zhi-hong, Leung Ka-wai and Yuen Ka-ying, bodybuilder Chan Yun-to and snooker player Fu Ka-chun.

Rower Lee Ka-man, who won a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games, appreciated the additional financial support, saying, "It is not only a recognition of my efforts but also a great morale booster in my quest for excellence in the sporting field," she said.

19-year-old Yip Pui-yin, who decided to train as a full-time athlete a few years ago, said, "It is important that the Fund has eased some of our financial burden, allowing us to concentrate on training and prepare for future competitions."

Athletes under the HKSI's Sports Scholarship Scheme will be benefited from the Fund. It covers more than 700 athletes from 13 elite sports and Individual Athletes Support Scheme, as well as the athletes from the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled and the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped.

Cash incentives will be disbursed to recipients according to results achieved at international competitions, ranging from invitational events to world championships and Major Games. It provides the athletes a total funding support of HK$9 million from 2006 to 2009.

Other than the just concluded 2006 Asian Games and the Far East & South Pacific Games for the Disabled, it is also hoped that the Fund can help local athletes better prepare for the coming Major Games including 2007 Asian Indoor Games, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 2008 Paralympic Games, 2009 National Games and 2009 East Asian Games in Hong Kong. A substantial sum of over HK$2.26 million has been given out to the HKSI Scholarship Athletes under this Fund in 2006.