Hong Kong track and field athletes hoping to complete last week of quarantine in training centre ahead of National Games
- September’s National Games in Xian will be the main target for track and field athletes after they missed out on the Tokyo Olympics
- Olympic fencing gold medallist Edgar Cheung will head Hong Kong’s challenge, along with track cycling star Sarah Lee
Local track and field officials are trying to negotiate with mainland authorities to have their athletes complete quarantine for Covid-19 at training facilities in Shenzhen instead of being confined to their hotel rooms or other quarters ahead of next month’s National Games in Xian.
Hurdler Vera Lui Lai-yiu, high jumper Cecilia Yeung Man-wai, long jumpers Chan Ming-tai and Yue Ya-xin are all in Shenzhen serving quarantine in a designated hotel while marathon runner Christy Yiu Kit-ching is in Zhuhai serving the same purpose. They can serve their last week of quarantine in home confinement, totalling 21 days of quarantine.
“The athletes have to go through a three-week quarantine in China before they are allowed to take part in the National Games in Xian,” said Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates vice-chairman Simon Yeung Sai-mo. “The first two weeks they must stay in a designated quarantine hotel while the final week they can serve their quarantine in home confinement.
“We have contacted a training centre in Shenzhen where they could provide our athletes accommodation as ‘home confine’ and at the same time allow our athletes to train there. But unfortunately that plan was turned down by the street authority where the centre is located. We have been asking for help from both the Hong Kong and mainland authorities and hopefully the matter can be resolved.”
Yeung said the centre was a major facility for the 2011 World University Games and fits the athletes’ training requirements. “If the athletes can have their third week [of quarantine] under a full training schedule, it will definitely help them regain their form before the National Games rather than spending the last seven days in a hotel or a household without proper training,” he said.
It is believed the Shenzhen Sports authority will talk to the street authority after the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates requested better arrangements.
The strict quarantine measures on the mainland have not been met enthusiastically by Hong Kong athletes. Already the men’s 4x100 metre relay team have turned down the chance to compete at the National Games due to the lengthy quarantine period. Race walking Olympian Jessica Ching Siu-nga and hurdler Chan Chun-wang have also turned down the chance to take part in Xian.
High jumper Yeung, meanwhile, said she carried two large suitcases to Shenzhen to help her cope with quarantine, carrying some basic training and recovery equipment.
“This is the first time I have brought so many things to a competition,” said Yeung, who is still struggling to regain her best form after recovering from a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury in 2019. “I can maintain some regular light training during the quarantine to keep my fitness level before I get back to full preparation for the National Games. No one wants to be quarantined but this is the reality under the pandemic.”
Hong Kong’s top fencers, who include Olympic gold medallist Edgar Cheung Ka-long, have just completed their quarantine in Shenzhen for the National Games but they won’t be travelling to Xian as the event will take place in Tianjin. Track cyclists, headed by Sarah Lee Wai-sze, are spending their quarantine in Shanghai before they travel to Luoyang in Henan province for their competition.
