HONG KONG: Hong Kong's first gold medal winner at the 11th Chinese National Games, Wong Kam-po returned home in triumph yesterday. The 36-year-old veteran cyclist, who sprinted to the finish line at the end of a 201-kilometer ride, appeared flushed with victory, before the media at the Sports Institute yesterday. It was his third gold medal at the National Games.

"Competition in the National Games is very fierce. The gold medal demonstrated Wong's perseverance in the game which set a good example for all the youth in Hong Kong," said Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing as he congratulated Wong.

The cyclist won his gold medal, finishing the competition in five hours 35 minutes and nine seconds, edging out by two seconds the second-place finisher Ma Haijun of the People's Liberation Army. Defending champion Li Fuyu from host Shandong province took third. Li had beaten Wong for the gold medal in the previous National Games four years ago.

Tsang Tak-sing extended heartfelt congratulations to Wong and said the outstanding achievement was the result of Wong's hard work and tenacity over years.

Wong said he was very pleased that the athletes garnered exposure in the competition. He added that experience in the National Games is very important and he felt very excited to win the gold medal. Wong also encouraged newly emerging athletes to get more experience and do even better at the next National Games.

Wong also said that he loved being an athlete, and his family understood that as an athlete he had to give up something. He said they'd always been very supportive of him. The cyclist added that he hoped he could participate in the Olympic Games once more to complete his dreams as an athlete.

"The will and conditioning of those young athletes are very good. They should also improve themselves step by step and target the Olympic Games in the future," said Wong. "As an athlete, I hope that government will provide more resources to Hong Kong's sport. Compared to other provinces or cities, Hong Kong's sport is not very well developed in the whole picture."

Wong has come away with a medal in the past three National Games, two gold and two bronze medals. The home affairs secretary had more congratulations to extend before the end of the day. Equestrians Patrick Lam and Cheng Man-kit won gold and bronze medals respectively in the individual jumping event at the National Games. Commending their remarkable performance, Tsang said, "with their unswerving efforts and unflinching determination, Hong Kong athletes have once again achieved excellent results in the National Games. We are very proud of their outstanding achievements."

So far the Hong Kong delegation has won two gold medals, one silver and four bronzes in the 11th National Games.

(HK Edition 10/28/2009 page1)