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Twelve junior athletes were honoured with the ZESPRI^® Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards (OJAA) for the 4th quarter of 2011 and were happy to receive blessings from their teammates, coaches and parents today at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI). To wrap up the 2011 sporting performance, table tennis player Doo Hoi-kem and squash player Ho Ka-po were named the Most Outstanding Junior Athlete and the Most Promising Junior Athlete respectively. The Hong Kong Table Tennis Association was elected as the Most Supportive National Sports Association in 2011.

Organised by the HKSI and sponsored by ZESPRI^®, the world's largest exporter of a premium brand of New Zealand kiwifruit, the OJAA anniversary and presentation ceremony for the 4^th quarter of 2011 was held today to recognise athletes' hard work and excellent performance.

In this quarter, a total of 12 athletes won the title, namely Ng Ka-fung (Athletics), Lee Chun-hei and Ng Ka-long (badminton), Chan Ho-yin, Nicholas Edward Choi, Tam Yuk-wang and Yeung Chi-ka (Fencing), Lau In-kwan (karatedo), Doo Hoi-kem, Li Ching-wan, Ng Ka-yee and Soo Wai-yam (table tennis).

Officiating guests were Dr Trisha Leahy, Chief Executive of the HKSI; Tony Yue, Vice President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC); and Raymond Chiu, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Press Association (HKSPA). In addition, Head Fencing Coach Zheng Kangzhao, newly retired table tennis player Zhang Rui, athletes Lai Chun-ho (athletics), Ng Ka-shun (badminton) and Chan Ka-man (karatedo) were also invited as special guests in support of the junior athletes.

Table tennis players Doo Hoi-kem, Li Ching-wan, Ng Ka-yee and Soo Wai-yam snatched a bronze medal in the junior girls' team event at the Volkswagen 2011 World Junior Table Tennis Championships last November. As a debut winner, Soo said with excitement, "There are many outstanding young athletes representing Hong Kong, so I have never dreamed of winning the Awards. I would like to thank my coach who has been nurturing and encouraging me. My next target is to participate in the 2^nd Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in 2014 in Nanjing. To prepare for this, I have already discussed with my teachers and coaches to work out a schedule which can balance my study and sport. I also need to adjust my mental condition for the Games."

Sprinter Ng Ka-fung broke the Hong Kong record in the men's 100m at the 7^th National Inter City Games and returned with a silver medal, which helped him win the OJAA again. Ng said, "I am pleased to win the Award again. I would like to thank ZESPRI^® for the sponsorship which can help us cover some daily expense. I will save the cash prize for future use and share the gift voucher with my family." He aims high to participate in the 2012 London Olympics, and targets to break the Hong Kong record in the men's 100m and 200m.

At the 7^th National Inter City Games held in last October, fencers Chan Ho-yin, Nicholas Edward Choi, Tam Yuk-wang and Yeung Chi-ka won a bronze medal in the men's foil team event. Four rising stars are all debut winners and were thrilled to accept the Award. Tam shared on behalf of his teammates, "We would like to thank our coaches, parents and teammates for their sincere support. This is definitely a morale booster and we hope to do better in the future." Tam has set his sight at the 2014 Asian Games and hopes to return home with a medal.

In addition, Vanessa Wong (roller sports), Lui Pan-to and Ma Hiu-ching (skating), Ma Tsz-hei (squash), Chan Chak-yin, Lo Lok-pui, Sou Ming-chun, Antony Tang and Wong Hong-kit (tennis) were also awarded Certificates of Merit for this quarter.

Also at the presentation ceremony, four athletes who were awardees of 2011 - Choi Uen-shan and Ho Tze-lok (squash), Soo Wai-yam (table tennis) and Chan Cheuk-lam (wushu) - were selected to participate in the ZESPRI^® 2011 New Zealand Cultural Exchange Tour to be held at the end of this month.

The ZESPRI^® Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards is organised by the HKSI and sponsored by ZESPRI^® for the third consecutive year, 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.

Awardees' Achievements in the 4^th Quarter of 2011 and List of Awardees for the ZESPRI^® 2011 New Zealand Cultural Exchange Tour (PDF)