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 Annual Celebration and 4th Quarter Presentation Ceremony of the Sports for Hope Foundation Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards 2018 was held at the HKSI today. A total of 13 junior athletes were presented with awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements in this quarter. To conclude the overall sporting performances in 2018, three annual awards including the Most Outstanding Junior Athletes, the Most Promising Junior Athlete Award and the Most Supportive National Sports Association were also presented at the Ceremony.
In 2018, numerous junior athletes had remarkable results in international competitions. Amongst them, Hsieh Sin-yan (Fencing) won her fourth OJAA title this year and became the second athlete being awarded both the Most Outstanding Junior Athletes and the Most Promising Junior Athlete Award after table tennis player Doo Hoi-kam in 2014. After crowning the champion in the Women’s Epee (Cadet) at the World Junior and Cadets Fencing Championships 2018, she won a silver medal in the Women’s Épée Individual at the Youth Olympic Games. She was excited to receive the annual awards and expressed thanks and appreciation to all the support she got through the years. She said “I feel very honoured to be recognised for the awards, because as student athlete, I have to balance both school and sports, and this is no easy task. 2018 was an amazing year for me, a lot of breakthrough, history and records made, and I’m happy that I’ve pushed myself through the year, very grateful for all the support I’ve been given from my coaches, teachers, family and friends.”
Hong Kong Fencing Association, submitted the highest number of successful nominations in 2018, was awarded the Most Supportive National Sports Association.
The officiating guests at the ceremony were Miss Marie-Christine Lee, Founder of the SFHF; Mr Pui Kwan-kay SBS MH, Vice-President of the SF&OC; Mr Wong Po-kee, MH, Hon Deputy Secretary General of the SF&OC; Miss Chui Wai-wah, Committee Member of the HKSPA; and Dr Trisha Leahy BBS, Chief Executive of the HKSI.
The recipients of this quarter are Wong Lok-hei (Athletics), Ko Shing-hei and Lui Lok-lok (Badminton), Robbie Capito and Yip Kin-ling (Billiard Sports), Hsieh Sin-yan (Fencing), Chan Ho-tung (Skating), Cheuk Ming-ho (Swimming), Su Zhi (Table Tennis), Tan Jiayi and Debbie Yeung (Wushu), Chan Yui-lam and Hui Ka-chun (Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability – Swimming).
Wong Lok-hei (Athletics) had notable achievement in 2018. He won a bronze medal in the Men’s 110m Hurdles at the Youth Olympic Games held in Buenos Aires. Billiard Sports athletes Yip Kin-ling and Robbie Capito, came in the first and second respectively in the Boys’ Event U19 at the 2018 World Juniors 9-Ball Championship, were awarded the title in this quarter.
Both Wushu athletes DebbieYeung and Tan Jiayi achieved remarkable results at the 3rd World Taijiquan Championships. Yeung won a gold medal in the Women’s Group B New Young Style Taijiquan and Tan won a silver medal in the Women’s Group A 42 Movements Taijijian. They looked up to world champion Geng Xiaoling and admired her passion for Wushu. Tan was awarded as Outstanding Junior Athlete for the first time. Yeung was grateful for the recognition and support from the Foundation, which would motivate her and other athletes to keep going and strive for better result.
The badminton players Ko Shing-hei and Lui Lok-lok paired again last year and netted the champion in the Mixed Doubles (U17) at Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships 2018. They were awarded as Outstanding Junior Athlete in this quarter and determined to polish their skills and work on their inadequacies for winning more medals in the international arena.
In addition, Certificates of Merit were awarded to Chui Hong-yu and Chung Yat-ho (Dance Sports), Zixiang Capol (Equestrian), Lo Sum-man and Tang Yu-hin (Karatedo), Chan Tsz-chung and Ng Yi-huen (Roller Sports), Leung Yi (Skating), Lam Hoi-kiu (Swimming), Ng Ki-lung and Wong Hong-yi (Tennis), Ng Wing-laam and Wong Man-ching (Volleyball) for this quarter. Yee Ho-tsung (Baseball), Christelle Ko (Fencing) and Yu Chuen-yiu and Yu Ka-po (Kart) were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation to acknowledge their effort.
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. 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 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.
