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Organised by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the Sports for Hope Foundation (SFHF) Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards (OJAA) ceremony took place at the HKSI today.  The presentation highlighted the beginning of the 2015 season and the awards were honoured out to the 1^st quarter recipients.

Officiating guests were Dr Trisha Leahy BBS, Chief Executive of the HKSI; Mr Pui Kwan-kay BBS MH, Vice-President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC); Mr Chu Hoi-kun, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Press Association (HKSPA) and Miss Marie-Christine Lee, founder of the SFHF.  Together they lighted a flame to symbolise the commencement of the 2015 SFHF OJAA.

Appreciation was given to eight outstanding junior athletes including Cheung Hiu-ching and Cheung Ka-long (fencing), Cheng Nga-ching, Choi Uen-shan, Ho Ka-wing, Lui Hiu-lam (squash), and Ho Kwan-kit and Zhu Chengzhu (table tennis).

Fencer Cheung Hiu-ching’s road to success was not smooth.  Suffering from scoliosis and physical pain, Cheung insisted to continue regular training.  Her persistence paid off after winning the gold medal in the women’s epee (cadet) at the Asian Junior & Cadet Fencing Championship 2015.  Cheung said, “I enjoy fencing so much that I would rather concentrate all my efforts on it than worry about my illness.” With this never-give-up attitude, Cheung sets her goal on the next Asian Games and the Olympics as her ultimate destination.  Her teammate Cheung Ka-long shared the limelight by defeating over 50 rivals and clinching a silver medal in the men’s foil (junior) at the same Championships.

Second time awardee, table tennis player Ho Kwan-kit began playing the sport when he was only five.  To pursue his sporting dream of table tennis, Ho postponed his studies five years ago and left Hong Kong for China to undergo demanding training.  His dream was realised when he returned to the territory and joined the Hong Kong Team.  This quarter, Ho grasped 1 gold and 1 silver medal in the men’s singles (U21) event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour, Hungary Open (Challenge) and the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour, Qatar Open (Super) respectively.  “Staying away from home at a young age was not easy but my love for table tennis kept me going.  Heartfelt thanks to the HKSI and the SFHF for the Award because it tells me that I am capable.” Ho recalled.

Another young table tennis star Zhu Chengzhu became an OJAA recipient after obtaining 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal in the junior girls’ singles, team and doubles events respectively at the 2015 Italian Junior & Cadet Open.

Comprised of Cheng Nga-ching, Choi Uen-shan, Ho Ka-wing and Lui Hiu-lam, the Hong Kong junior girls squash team brought a silver medal home from the 17^th Asian Junior Squash Team Championships.  Lui was very happy about receiving the Award and expressed, “The support from the SFHF is really important as it recognises the hard work we have made.  My next target is to enter the final round at the 22^nd Asian Junior Individual Championship 2015 in Iran.”

In addition, tennis players Wong Hong-yi and Wong Sheung-yin were awarded Certificates of Merit for this quarter.

Organised by the HKSI and sponsored by the Sports for Hope Foundation since 2012, with support from the SF&OC and the HKSPA, the OJAA recognises 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 sports voucher worth HK$2,500 and a certificate.

The HKSI is the Government’s elite sport training systems delivery agent and is committed to provide an environment in which sports talent can be identified, nurtured, and developed to pursue excellence in the international sporting arena and to inspire potential athletes to pursue a full-time sports career.

Awardees’ Achievements in the 1^st Quarter of 2015 (PDF)