Aylsworth and Sakai sail into Paris Games
Hong Kong sailing duo and Asian Games bronze medallists Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth clinched their place at the Paris Olympics by finishing seventh at the French Olympic Week Last Chance Regatta.
They will compete in the 49er class and join fellow sailor Nicholas Halliday, who has qualified for the ILCA7 single-handed dinghy event.
“The Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China is extremely proud that our sailors have once again qualified for the Olympic Games,” it said. “They have worked incredibly hard to get these results and we look forward to seeing them race in Paris this summer.”
Despite the small delegation, athletes in triathlon, gymnastics, badminton and athletics could still make it for Hong Kong. But there will be no place for men’s teams in fencing or table tennis, as is the same for world No 1 Grace Lau Mo-sheung, with karate dropped by the International Olympic Committee.
Those who have already qualified include reigning men’s foil fencing individual champion Cheung Ka-long, alongside world No 1 women’s épéeist Vivian Kong Man-wai and Daphne Chan Nok-sze, who won women’s foil individual bronze at the Asian Games last September.
While Cheung is among the favourites for another gold, swimmer Siobhan Haughey, who has qualified for six events include two relays, will be looking to join him and improve on her double silver haul at Tokyo in 2021. She will be joined by a swimming team of Ian Ho Yentou, Cindy Cheung Sum-yuet, Tam Hoi-lam, Camille Cheng Lily-mei, Stephanie Au Hoi-shun, Li Sumyiu and Natalie Kan Cheuk-tung.
Cyclists Lee Wan-yau and Ceci Lee Sze-wing have booked their spots while two-time Olympic gymnast Stone Shek Wai-hung heads for Paris by being one of the highest-ranked eligible athletes in the men’s vault.
Ma Kwan-ching and Cheng Ching-yin will be on the water in the women’s and men’s IQ foil while Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem are in doubles table tennis and Wong may also make the singles. Hong Kong also has a place in men’s single sculls rowing for the Games.