Hong Kong athletics back after seven months as Lee Hong-kit, Leung Kwan-yi shake off Covid-19 to win gold in 100 metres
- A symbolic day at the 2022 Hong Kong Athletics Trial in Tseung Kwan O, as sport continues its recovery in the city
- In the women’s 5,000m, primary schoolteacher Vut Tsz-ying triumphs with a personal best of 18 minutes and 18.40 seconds
Hong Kong athletics stormed back into action on Saturday, with a first senior competition in seven months at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground.
The 2022 Hong Kong Athletics Trial was not without safety measures, of course – for instance, the starting line of the 100 metres had an open lane in the middle, to meet social distancing requirements.
But it was a triumphant day for two sprinters who had recovered from Covid-19, with Lee Hong-kit and Leung Kwan-yi taking symbolic victories in the 100m to boost their hopes ahead of the World University Games in June, as Hong Kong athletics began its own recovery.
The 25-year-old Lee, who has already booked his ticket to Chengdu, won the men’s race in 10.79 seconds, with Shak Kam-ching taking silver in 10.82, and Diu Chun-hei collecting bronze in 11.08. The race was wide open, with Hong Kong record holder Ng Ka-fung now training in China.
“At first, I was worried that I would not be able to run and that my lung function might be bad,” Lee said. “I’m fortunate [Covid-19] didn’t affect my training much, and today’s result is something I expected.”
The full-time sprinter, whose most recent competition was the Hong Kong Athletics Series 2022-Series 4 last September where he set a personal best of 10.42 in the heats before taking silver with 10.50, had tested positive in late February at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI).
