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Ten promising young athletes were awarded Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards (OJAA) for the 4^th quarter of 2009 during the Prize Presentation Ceremony today (17 March) by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and ZESPRI™, producer of a premium brand of New Zealand kiwi fruit.  Also announced were the recipient of the inaugural Most Outstanding Junior Athlete Award for 2009, as well as the four athletes who will be participating in the OJAA exchange tour to New Zealand from 26 March to 1 April.

The ZESPRI™ Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards are organised by the HKSI and sponsored by ZESPRI™, with the support of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) and the Hong Kong Sports Press Association (HKSPA).  They recognise on a quarterly basis the achievement of outstanding local junior athletes under the age of 19.

Ten athletes were presented Awards for the quarter, including Poon Lok-yan and Tse Ying-suet (badminton); Lee Ho-ching and Ng Wing-nam (table tennis); Luk Chun-chung (cycling), Liao Shun-yin and Ng Wing-hei (rowing); Au Hoi-shun and Kong Man-yi (swimming); and Tsui Kwok-man (rowing, Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped, HKSAM).  Each was presented with a cash prize of HK$2,500, a voucher worth HK$2,500 and a certificate.
 
Officiating guests at today’s presentation included Dr Trisha Leahy, Chief Executive of the HKSI; Tony Yue, Vice President of the SF&OC; Raymond Chiu, Executive Committee Vice Chairman of the HKSPA; and Kennes Young, representative of ZESPRI International (Asia) Limited.  In addition, Robert Wilson (President of Hong Kong, China Rowing Association), Chan Chi-choi (Head Badminton Coach of the HKSI), Wong Tak-sum (retired windsurfing coach), Lam Hon-kit (rowing coach, HKSAM), Tsai Hiu-wai (retired swimmer) and Wong Ching (retired table tennis player) were invited as special guests to present the Awards in support of junior athletes.  The OJAA awardees for the previous three quarters were also invited to join today’s annual celebration.

Badminton players Poon Lok-yan and Tse Ying-suet demonstrated exceptional teamwork in women’s doubles in grabbing the bronze medal at the Yonex-Sunrise BWF World Junior Badminton Championships 2009.  They said they felt exceptionally honoured to receive the Award from Head Badminton Coach Chan Chi-choi, who will retire at the end of the month, adding that they will remember what Coach Chan had taught them and always give 110% effort.

A member of the Hong Kong squad since 2006, mountain biker Luk Chun-chung won the title for the first time and was visibly thrilled with the honour.  “I am very happy to win the Award.  It is really encouraging.  I would like to thank my coach, family and friends for their support,” Luk said. 

Rowers Ng Wing-hei and Liao Shun-yin snatched a silver medal and a bronze medal in women’s and men’s singles respectively at the 15^th Asian Junior Rowing Championships.  Liao was flattered to receive the Award, saying, “I started playing the sport when I was a second-former.  The Award encourages me to continue getting better results.  I hope I can participate in more important competitions in the future.”

Swimmer Au Hoi-shun clinched a total of 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the 5^th East Asian Games (EAG) held in December last year.  “Participating in a Major Games hosted by Hong Kong was an unforgettable experience.  The cheers from the home crowd really excited me and pushed me to swim faster,” Au said.  Teammate Kong Man-yi earned the outstanding athlete title with her excellent achievements of a gold and a bronze medal in the women’s 100M breaststroke at the 3^rd Asian Indoor Games 2009 and the 8^th Asian Swimming Championships respectively.

Tsui Kwok-man clinched 2 gold medals in male 500M and 1000M at the 1^st INAS-FID World Indoor Rowing Championships, the best results he has gotten since he became a member of the Hong Kong squad in June 2008.  “I am very happy.  This Award drives me to work harder.  I think the Award does not belong to me alone, but also to my family, coach and teammates who have been supporting me for a long period of time,” Tsui said.  He is now preparing for the FISA World Cup I and the 2^nd INAS-FID World Indoor Rowing Championships and hopes to attain the same excellent results.

Table tennis players Lee Ho-ching and Ng Wing-nam received their honours by winning 2 bronze medals in girls’ doubles and girls’ team at the Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Championships held in December last year.

The inaugural Most Outstanding Junior Athlete Award was created to honour the young athlete who has performed with excellence over the course of a year, and windsurfer Chan Hei-man was named the recipient.  “I am very honoured to receive the Award.  I would like to thank my parents, coaches and school for their full support of my decision to become a full-time athlete in 2008.  The Award proves that I am on the right track,” Chan said.  The Chief Executive of the HKSI, Dr Trisha Leahy, congratulated this quarter’s winners and also praised the performance of Chan. “Hei-man’s exceptional performance proves the importance of full-time training.  I hope more young athletes will follow suit,” Dr Leahy said. 

Athletes Lui Pan-to (skating), Au Hoi-shun and Kong Man-yi (swimming) were also awarded Certificates of Merit for setting the Hong Kong records in their respective sports, while tennis players Chan Tsz-ching and Ma Ka-man were recognised for their outstanding performances in the 4^th quarter of 2009. 

ZESPRI™ will also sponsor an exchange tour to New Zealand in late March for four of the 2009 awardees: table tennis players Lee Ho-ching and Ng Wing-nam, swimmer Kong Man-yi and wushu athlete Fung Wing-see.  Kelvin Bezuidenhout, Market Manager of ZESPRI International (Asia) Limited said, “ZESPRI™ is delighted to be able to make this New Zealand tour happen. It should help broaden the scopes of young athletes from both Hong Kong and New Zealand and promote better mutual understanding.”

All four athletes said they are all very excited and look forward to the cultural exchange tour.  Kong Man-yi said, “Thanks to ZESPRI™, who gave us this golden opportunity to visit New Zealand, we will definitely be able to gain valuable experience.  The exchange with local athletes on their knowledge of sports and training methods will be very beneficial.  The tour should also help enhance my leadership and communication skills.” 

Fung Wing-see said, “ZESPRI™’s generous sponsorship can help enhance the development of local junior sports.  I am very lucky to be selected as one of the athletes to join the tour.  I hope to introduce the Hong Kong culture to New Zealand and visit the elite training facilities there.”

Ng Wing-nam said, “I heard that New Zealanders are very nice.  I hope to have a first-hand experience of their customs and culture.”  Lee Ho-ching added, “I would like to exchange my sports insights with local athletes, and I would like to play a friendly match with them too.”