Strong showing in Switzerland sees Wong heading for Athens
Hong Kong cycling ace Wong Kam-po is Athens-bound. He booked a berth for next year's Olympics after a powerful performance in Switzerland at the weekend. And after qualifying for the road event, he will now be looking to clinch a place in Olympics track cycling.
Wong - commonly known as Ah Po - finished a strong 11th in the B World Championship road race in Switzerland on Sunday. He finished one minute, 55 seconds behind race winner Brazilian Murilo Fischer, whose winning time was three hours, 42 minutes and 43 seconds.
The first 15 finishers of the 151km race were awarded a berth in the road events at Athens.
The general secretary of the Hong Kong Cycling Association, Frederick Chan Chun-hung, said the association was happy to clinch a berth for the Olympics.
'The result is good considering the course's layout did not really suit Ah Po,' said Chan. 'The coach said Ah Po gave his very best, so we're happy.'
Wong's qualification should make up for his disappointment of missing out on the road events at the Sydney Olympics. The 30-year-old's Athens mission will be to improve on his showing in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, when he failed to complete the course.
Wong spent three months training in Europe and getting accustomed to the Swiss course, a decision which probably led to his strong display on Sunday.
Wong is still training in Switzerland and will compete in next month's Asian Cycling Championships in South Korea.
Another Hong Kong competitor in Switzerland, Wong Ngai-ching, finished 48th in the same event, 21:31 behind the winner.
