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Organised by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and sponsored by ZESPRI™, a premium brand of New Zealand kiwi fruit, and with the support of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) and the Hong Kong Sports Press Association (HKSPA), the ZESPRI™ Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards (OJAA) Presentation for the 3^rd quarter of 2009 was held today (24 November) to recognise the achievement of outstanding local junior athletes under the age of 19.

Since most of the nominees got excellent results this quarter, the number of recipients reached a historical high record of 16. They included Lee Chun-hei and Ng Ka-long (badminton), Cheung King-lok and Choi Ki-ho (cycling), Fong Yi-tak and Low Ho-tin (fencing), Ho Ka-po, Lee Ka-man, Liu Tsz-ling and Tong Tsz-wing (squash), Chiu Chung-hei and Ng Wing-nam (table tennis), Chan Hei-man and Lo Sin-lam (windsurfing), Ho Nim-ching (taekwondo, Hong Kong Sport Association of the Deaf) and Kwok Chun-hoi (boccia, Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, HKPC&SAPD). Each of them was presented a cash prize of HK$2,500, a voucher worth HK$2,500 and a certificate.

Officiating guests included Tony Yue, Vice President of the SF&OC, Danny Poon, Executive Committee Member of the HKSPA and Dr Trisha Leahy, Chief Executive of the HKSI. Ng Wei (badminton athlete), Wong Kam-po (cycling athlete), Chan Tan-lui (retired table tennis athlete), Wong Tak-sum (retired windsurfing athlete) etc. were also invited as special guests to present the Awards to the awardees, symbolising the continuation of elite athletes' development. In addition, mascot ambassadors of the 2009 East Asian Games, "Dony" and "Ami", attended the Awards presentation to congratulate the winners of the Awards and encourage athletes to continue pursue excellence in the East Asian Games.

Squash players Ho Ka-po, Lee Ka-man, Liu Tsz-ling and Tong Tsz-wing earned the outstanding junior athletes title by winning a silver medal in women's team at the World Junior Squash Championships 2009 held in India. Liu Tsz-ling and Ho Ka-po won the title twice and once respectively in the previous quarters. They said, "Although this is not the first time for us to be honoured the Awards, we are still very happy because our efforts are recognised." Lee Ka-man was very happy to hear that the Awards were sponsored by the kiwi fruit brand ZESPRI™. "Commercial sponsorship indicates that local sport is growing its popularity among the public, and I am enthusiastic on this." Lee said.

Fencer Fong Yi-tak clinched a silver medal in junior women's sabre team and a bronze medal in junior women's sabre individual while teammate Lo Ho-tin bagged a gold medal in junior men's sabre team and a silver medal in junior men's sabre individual at the Asian Junior & Cadet Fencing Championships 2009 held in July in Singapore. Being an awardee in the 3^rd quarter of 2007, Fong has become more mature. "In the past I named some senior fencers as my role model, and I would try to perform as good as they did; now I focus more on my strengths and weaknesses and how to get improvement," Fong said. Studying in the first year of the associated degree foundation at the College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Lo Ho-tin started playing fencing since primary 3. He was thrilled to win the Awards for the first time. "I was so surprised to hear the good news. The Awards can definitely drive me to work harder. I hope I can grab the gold medals in junior men's individual and team at the Asian Junior & Cadet Fencing Championships 2010." Lo said.

Table tennis players Chiu Chung-hei and Ng Wing-nam snatched a bronze medal in cadet boys' singles and a silver medal in junior girls' team respectively at the 15th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships held in India in July. In addition, they also grabbed a silver medal in junior boys' doubles and a bronze medal in junior girls' singles respectively at 2009 ITTF Junior Circuit - 1^st Hong Kong Junior Open held in August. Chiu Chung-hei was very happy to learn that the Awards were sponsored this year. This encourages him to work harder and concentrate in training, so as to achieve better results in the future. "I hope to take part in the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and get good results; in the long run, I hope to take part in Major Games such as the Asian Games and the Olympic Games and win medals for Hong Kong," Chiu said. Ng Wing-nam was grateful to her parents, her coaches for their support and coaching. She also thanked ZESPRI™ for their generous sponsorship to support local young athletes.

Up-and-coming taekwondo player Ho Nim-ching first represented Hong Kong at the 21^st Summer Deaflympics Taipei 2009 held in September. His remarkable performance in taekwondo mens' under 58kg earned him a bronze medal and the outstanding junior athlete title. Ho worked so hard for the Deaflympics that he received training three hours a day and five days a week. "Although I am hearing impaired, I do not think I am inferior to normal people. I believe I can perform even better than them. My father always reminds me that I may fail, but I should not be defeated." Ho said.

In addition, Lai Jing-man (equestrian), Lok Chun-him (finswimming), Yeung Lai-shan (athletics, Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped, HKSAM), Chu Wai-hin (table tennis, HKSAM) and Tsoi Wai-kin (swimming, HKPC&SAPD) were each awarded a Certificate of Merit to recognise their outstanding performance in this quarter.

ZESPRI™ will sponsor an exchange tour to New Zealand in late March next year for four awardees of 2009. A selection will be conducted between January and February 2010. Further details on the selection will be announced in due course.