Hong Kong mixed doubles badminton pair Chau Hoi-wah and Lee Chun-hei enjoyed a landmark win at The Star Australian Badminton Open held from 26 to 31 May, their first ever win in the elite 12-event Superseries.

The unseeded pair became the first Hong Kong mixed doubles team ever to win a Superseries title when they beat fourth seeds Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin in the Sydney final, 21-19, 19-21, 21-15.

The US$750,000 tournament is one of the most lucrative on the tour, and with the added incentive of qualifying points for the Rio Olympics at stake, the top-10 teams were all taking part, making Chau and Lee’s feat all the more impressive.

The pair had it tough from beginning to end, having to see off the eighth, third and second seeds on their way to the final.

“I have to thank my parents, my coach and partner. They make it possible for me to achieve what I did today. I wish I could explain to you how amazing our teamwork transformed to rise to the challenge and the joy of playing all these special players this week”, said Chau, after their first win over the mainlanders in four meetings.

After beating a Russian pair in the opening round in two games, Chau and Lee had to slog it out over three games in all of their remaining matches, beating teams from Indonesia, Denmark and another Indonesian pair, the highly-rated Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir.

He Yiming, Head Badminton Coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), said he hoped the win would propel the pair forward in the build-up to Rio.

“It is important not only because they have now become the first mixed doubles gold medal winner of a Superseries from Hong Kong, but also the confidence they have gained by toppling so many top opponents on their way to victory,” he said.

“The Rio 2016 Games qualifications just began and they can now believe they can also make it at the top level. Hopefully they can start from here and make sufficient progress to challenge others at next year’s Olympic Games. But one thing is certain, their world ranking will receive a big boost following the victory and this is pivotal for the rest of the year.

With the win, they moved from 13^th to 9^th in the world rankings. Their best ever ranking was 6^th last year, but they have had to fight their way back from a low of 19 at the start of 2015.

The top 16 in May 2016 qualify for the Rio Olympics, with a maximum of two teams from each National Olympic Committee. With China and Indonesia likely to have at least two pairs each in the top 16, Chau and Lee have already given themselves a good chance of reaching Rio, if they maintain their impressive form over the coming months.

May was an impressive month for the Au siblings, with 2 gold medals and 1 silver between them for brother and sister Leo Chun-ming and Annie Wing-chi.

In an eight-medal haul for squash at five events during the month, Leo won the top title at the 18^th Asian Individual Championships, while Annie was runner-up against the almost-unbeatable Nicol David of Malaysia.

Leo, fourth seed, stunned the home crowd in Kuwait by outplaying local hero and Incheon Asian Games gold medallist Abdullah Al-Mezayen in three games (11-7, 11-9, 13-11) in the final.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Leo. “I am so happy. I didn’t imagine I could win this tournament. I performed really well in this tournament. This time I concentrated more than I normally do.”

He was the first home-grown player ever to win the top regional event. Annie, winner of the tournament in 2013, said she “jumped for joy” watching him win.

“Last time when I won the title, he was asking when it would be his turn,” said Annie. “So it was unbelievable that he made it come true. We were still thinking if it was real at dinner [after the finals]. He has improved a lot and was very focused in his matches.”

And at the 4^th HKFC Invitational PSA 25 Tournament a few weeks later, Annie took the top prize, while Lee Ho-yin ensured a home double for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Chu Man-yee won two legs of the Malaysian Squash Tour in Penang and Kuala Lumpur, and Liu Tsz-ling won the South Australian Open in Adelaide.

Hong Kong’s young athletes enjoyed a successful trip to Doha, Qatar, for the inaugural Asian Youth Athletics Championships held from 8 to 11 May, winning 1 gold and 2 silver.

In the women’s 100m race, Poon Hang-wai clocked a PB 12.27 seconds to claim the gold, ahead of Lebanon’s Lea Paul Obeid (12.32).

“Winning the 100m gold is a great feeling,” she said. “To do so with a personal best is even sweeter as I didn’t expect to win, my main hope [was] the 200m.”

Teammates Lam Yan-tung and Wong Yuen-nam added to the medal haul with seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles and women’s high jump respectively.

Hong Kong para-rower Tsoi Ka-ming starred at the 4^th INAS World Indoor Rowing Championships held from 14 to 17 May in Gavirate, Italy, setting a new world record of 1 minute 29.2 seconds, to win the men’s individual 500m event and earning silver in the 1000m.

Billiard sports athlete Fung Kwok-wai won a bronze medal in the 6-Red event at the ACBS Asian 6-Red Snooker and Teams Championships held on 23 - 31 May in Kish Island, Iran.

The Hong Kong table tennis team won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the SET Thailand Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Golden Series Junior Circuit held on 13 - 17 May in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Hong Kong table tennis team won a gold medal at the GAC Group ITTF World Tour, Philippines Open - Challenge Series held on
27 - 31 May in Subic Bay, Philippines.

Table tennis athlete Wong Ka-man (Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped) won a bronze medal in the Women’s Singles (Class 11) event at the Slovakia Open held on 12 - 17 May in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Tenpin bowling athlete Yuen Wing-shan (Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled) won a gold medal in the Women’s TPB3 All Events at the 5^th IBSA World Games held on 10 - 17 May in Seoul, Korea.

The Hong Kong wheelchair fencing team (Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled) won 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup - Canada held on 1 - 3 May in Montreal, Canada.

The Hong Kong wheelchair fencing team (Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled) won 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup - Italy held on 22 - 24 May in Pisa, Italy.