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Achieved remarkable sporting results for Hong Kong in 2007, a total of 83 Hong Kong coaches were honoured today (20 April) at the annual 2007 Hongkong Bank Foundation (HBF) Coaching Awards Presentation Ceremony for their dedication and contribution to athletes training and the booming sports development in Hong Kong.

Organised by the Hong Kong Coaching Committee (HKCC) and funded by the Hongkong Bank Foundation since 1993, the HBF Coaching Awards are the most prestigious Awards and the sole programme to recognise the achievements of coaches in Hong Kong on a territory-wide basis.

At the Presentation Ceremony, Professor Frank Fu, Chairman of the HKCC, praised the awardees for their efforts in nurturing elite athletes in Hong Kong, saying: "the achievements and success of the athletes to a large extent are owed to the enthusiasm and professionalism of their coaches, who always try very hard to ensure that their athletes are in the optimum condition. I would like to pay tribute to their dedication and enthusiasm."

Professor Fu further thanked HBF for their support to the Hong Kong Coach Education Programme over the years and the National Sports Associations for their effort and cooperation in raising the level of coach education and the profile of coaches.

Teresa Au, Head of Corporate Sustainability Asia Pacific Region of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, also commended awardees for their effort and enthusiasm. She said: "Coaches are more than trainers. They are also mentors, counsellors, nutrionists, and friends, providing praise, sympathy, encouragement, and guidance. They should also get the recognition they deserve. That's why the HBF has been funding the Coach Education Programme and the Awards with over HKD21 million since the early 1990s to acknowledge the importance of coaches in developing athletes."

The awards given out today are in six categories, namely Coach of the Year Awards, Distinguished Services Award for Coaching, Best Team Sport Award, Coach Education Award, Coaching Excellence Awards and Community Coach Recognition Awards.

Cycling coach Shen Jin-kang won the Coach of the Year Awards in senior athletes, individual sport category. Under his guidance, local cycling athlete Wong Kam-po became the first Chinese cycling world champion after winning the Men's 15km Scratch event of UCI Track Cycling World Championships last year. Shen has also nurtured and trained many cycling athletes like Chan Chun-hing, Cheung King-wai, Lam Kai-tsun, Tang Wang-yip and Wong Wan-yiu who have achieved excellent results at international competitions.

Table tennis coach Li Hui-fen was the first time to win the Coach of the Year Awards in the senior athletes, team event category. Li has made a brilliant success in guiding her team to perform with distinction at overseas competitions in 2007. This includes a bronze medal in Women's Team at the World Team Cup, a bronze medal in Mixed Doubles at the World Championships, a gold medal in Women's Doubles at the Brazilian Open and the Chile Open respectively.

In junior athletes categories, the Coach of the Year Awards for individual sport and team event went to squash coach Tony Choi and fencing coach Geza Marffy respectively. Tony has led the rising squash players Annie Au and Joey Chan to win a gold medal and a silver medal respectively at the 13^th Asian Junior Squash Championships. Annie Au also won a bronze medal in Women's Singles at the World Junior Women's Squash Championships. On the other hand, Geza has nurtured the junior women's sabre team who was able to win a silver medal at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships.

The Distinguished Services Award for Coaching was presented to triathlon coach Ruth Hunt. Ruth has devoted the past decade in developing local triathletes from the beginning of their careers and has led the athletes to accomplish significant improvement and outstanding performance in major competitions, including a silver medal at both the 2006 Asian Games and the 12^th Asian Triathlon Championships.

Rugby coach Rodney McIntosh won the Best Team Sport Award for steering the Hong Kong rugby team to champion at the IRB Satellite Sevens – Asian 2007.

The Coach Education Award went to Yu Kam-kai of table tennis, who has started the work on coach education since 1991 and devoted to the promotion and development of table tennis that has helped raise the quality of table tennis coaches in Hong Kong.

The Coaching Excellence Awards were presented to 54 coaches who have led an athlete or a team to achieve outstanding performance at major international competitions in 2007.

Another 19 coaches won the Community Coach Recognition Awards for having made a special contribution to the development of athletes and coaches in the community for a period of not less than three consecutive years.

At the Presentation, officiating guests including Mr Pang Chung, Hon Secretary General of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China; Dr Eric Li, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, Professor Fu and Teresa Au, as well as coach and athlete representatives, conducted a simple ceremony by pouring sparkling powder to fuel up an engine, indicating our athletes would achieve better sporting results in the international sporting arena with the support from major stakeholders and the community.

The HKCC, a joint committee of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and the HKSI, was established in 1991 with aims of formulating and implementing short-term and long-term strategies for the development of coach education and accreditation programmes in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Coach Education Programme has been funded by the HBF with a total commitment of more than HK$21 million since 1992. Throughout the years, over 20,000 coaches have been benefited from the training and recognition programmes in the Programme.

Recipients for the 2007 Hongkong Bank Foundation Coaching Awards (PDF)