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Five up-and-coming young athletes—Lee Chun-hei and Ng Ka-long (badminton), Lam Hin-wai (fencing), Daryl Hung and Ng Ka-yee (table tennis)—were awarded Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards (OJAA) for the 2^nd quarter of 2010 during the Prize Presentation Ceremony held today (7 September) at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI).  The OJAA is sponsored by ZESPRI^®, a premium brand of New Zealand kiwifruit. 

Officiating guests at today’s presentation included Dr Trisha Leahy, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI); Tony Yue, Vice President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC); and Raymond Chiu, Executive Committee Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Press Association (HKSPA).  Badminton player Yip Pui-yin, table tennis players Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching, and retired fencer Ho Ka-lai were invited as special guests in support of the junior athletes. 

Badminton players Lee Chun-hei and Ng Ka-long teamed up to win a bronze medal against a field of 64 entries in the men’s doubles at the World Junior Championships 2010 in Mexico this April.  Lee said, “I was extremely happy to win because this was a historic bronze for Hong Kong.  I’m really grateful to my family, coach and teammates for their support, and I hope to win more medals for Hong Kong in the future.”  Ng also thanked his family and ZESPRI^® for their support.  “Commercial sponsorship is a recognition of the Awards and the effort of Hong Kong’s athletes,” said Ng.  Both Lee and Ng said their parents influenced them to play and that they fell in love with badminton in primary school.

Fencer Lam Hin-wai won a bronze medal in the women’s sabre individual at the Men’s & Women’s Sabre World Cup in Thailand this May.  Inspired by her brother, who often practised fencing at home, Lam started the sport when she was in primary four.  Lam recently returned from Shanghai for a three-week summer training session, saying, “It was organised by the Hong Kong Fencing Association and the HKSI, and I learned a lot.  Now I’m fitter and have an even stronger determination to win.” Lam, who turns 19 next week, is now targeting gold at the Asia Youth Championships next year. 

Table tennis player Daryl Hung clinched two gold medals in the cadet boys’ singles – year 15 and the junior boys’ singles – year 18 at the KVB Kunlun 2010 New Zealand Junior and Cadet International Open in April.  He has been a member of the Hong Kong table tennis team since April 2009.  Hung was excited to be awarded an OJAA for the first time, saying, “I’m flattered.  I hope to represent Hong Kong in more international competitions in the future.”  Hung added that he sees all his teammates as his role models because they are all excellent players.

Hung’s teammate, Ng Ka-yee, won a gold medal in the cadet girls’ singles – year 15 at the 2010 Spanish Junior and Cadet Open Championships in May, as well as a silver medal in the girls’ singles at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Qualification Tournament for Asia in Thailand this April.  Ng, who had just returned from the inaugural YOG, said she was very excited about the experience she gained there.  “Though I didn’t win any medals, I was still glad to have the opportunity to go and meet other young players.  I’m honoured to win the OJAA in this quarter, and I hope to do better in the future and earn this Award again,” she said.

Ng Ka-fung (athletics), Ng Kiu-chung and Shek Wai-hung (gymnastics), Shiu Ho-yan and Wong Wai-kin (rowing), Cheng Nga-ching and Chu Ka-hei (squash), and Choi Yan-yin and Wong Perry (triathlon) were also awarded Certificates of Merit for this quarter.

The ZESPRI^® Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards is organised by the HKSI and sponsored by ZESPRI^®, with support from the SF&OC and the HKSPA.  They recognise the achievements of outstanding local junior athletes under the age of 19 on a quarterly basis.  Each recipient is presented with a cash prize of HK$2,500, a voucher worth HK$2,500 and a certificate.