Organised by the HKSI, sponsored by the Sports for Hope Foundation (SFHF) and supported by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) and the Hong Kong Sports Press Association (HKSPA), the Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards (OJAA) Presentation Ceremony for the 3rd quarter of 2019 was held at the HKSI today.
Officiating guests included Miss Marie-Christine Lee, founder of the SFHF, Ms Vivien Lau BBS JP, Vice-President of the SF&OC; Miss Chui Wai-wah, Vice Chairman of the HKSPA and Dr Trisha Leahy BBS, Chief Executive of the HKSI.
A total of 30 junior athletes were presented the OJAA title and 13 of them were acknowledged for their outstanding achievements at the 2nd National Youth Games. They were Ko Shing-hei and Yeung Pui-lam (Badminton); Chu Tsun-wai and Lee Sze-wing (Cycling); Jerry Lee and Sin Kam-ho (Dance Sports); Samantha Chan (Equestrian); Cheng Hui-pan and Tang Yu-hin (Karatedo); Lee Mang-hin and Leung Chui-kei (Tennis); Lo Cheuk-yat and Yip Tak-long (Triathlon).
Badminton duo Ko Shing-hei and Yeung Pui-lam won a bronze medal in the U19 Mixed Doubles Sports School Section. Ko is not a new face at this presentation, however, he still felt very happy and planned to exercise his full potential in the sport by turning full-time in the future. Yeung echoed Ko’s passion in the sport by looking for a self-breakthrough in the coming competitions.
Rider Samantha Chan demonstrated excellence by winning a bronze medal in the Women’s Aged 16-19 Individual Dressage Sports School Section. Chan is stepping up her training intensity and looks forward to participating in more overseas competitions. For the long-term goal, she has been eyeing on representing Hong Kong at the Asian Games.
The other 17 OJAA awardees were Robbie Capito and Fu Huan (Billiard Sports); Wong Cheuk-nam (Mountaineering); Chu Ying-yau and Man Wing (Orienteering); Florence Symonds (Rugby); Chan Sin-yuk, Fung Ching-hei, Lee Sum-yuet and Wong Po-yui (Squash); Chan Ho-wah and Yiu Kwan-to (Table Tennis); Nicole He and Tsang Cho-kiu (Wushu); Wong Yue-ching (Table Tennis – Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKPC&SAPD)) and Chan Yui-lam and Tse Lam-yan (Swimming – Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability.
This edition of OJAA also saw an encouraging phenomenon that many recipients delivered solid performances at both the World and Asian level of competitions at a very young age. Comprising Chan Sin-yuk, Fung Ching-hei, Lee Sum-yuet and Wong Po-yui, the Hong Kong Junior Girls Squash Team beat 15 teams and returned with a bronze medal at the WSF World Junior Squash Team Championships 2019. Sharing the limelight was Chan Yui-lam who also got a bronze medal in the S14 Women’s 100M Butterfly at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships.
The youngest recipient in this quarter was 11-year-old wushu athlete Tsang Cho-kiu, who outshone her competitors in the Children Girls’ Daoshu while Nicole He, one year older of Tsang, won two gold medals in the Junior Girls’ Nandao and Junior Girls’ Nanquan, all from the 10th Asian Junior Wushu Championship.
In addition, the Certificate of Merits were awarded to 11 other athletes, namely Luo Tsz-yuen (Athletics), Yu Ka-po (Kart), Law Ching-shun and Poon Sin-ki (Roller Sports), Fan Hei-wun and Yim Kai-hong (Shuttlecock); Chan Cheuk-yiu and Ivan So (Taekwondo); Chan Cheuk-ying (Underwater); Wong Man-ching (Volleyball) and Tong Chi-ming (Table Tennis – HKPC&SAPD) for their outstanding performance. To encourage athletes’ participation, a total of 37 athletes were presented with the Certificate of Appreciation.
Organised by the HKSI, 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. For teams, they will receive a cash award of HK$10,000, a sport voucher worth HK$10,000 and certificates.
Being the Government’s designated organisation to provide the high performance training system for eligible sports, the HKSI is committed to providing 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.
