HK's Wong still pushing on

By Tang Yue (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-26 09:18

Due to a slight cough and a lack of training, Hong Kong's Wong Kam-po failed to reach the podium at the UCI World Cup in Beijing last week.

The rider once dubbed the "king of cycling" in Asia is going on 37 now and the men's points race, in which he competed at the past three Olympic Games, will not be staged at the 2012 London Games, due to an IOC decision last month.

However the veteran, who has ridden professionally since 1990, still wants to stay in the saddle and compete in London.

"I thought about retirement. I really did. But I still want to keep training for a couple of years and gauge my performances," Wong said.

"I'm trying to transfer to the Omnium but that features five events and will be a real challenge for me."

Three years ago, the Hong Kong cyclist became the first Chinese world champion when he won the 15 km-scratch at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Palma de Mallo, Spain.

He was also a three-time national champion in track and road races as well as a two-time gold winner at the Asian Games.

However, he has never tasted Olympic success.

In his previous three Games, Wong's best finish was 11th in Sydney.

The flagbearer for Hong Kong at the Beijing Games, Wong enjoys as much popularity at home as windsurfer Lee Lai-shan, who won Hong Kong's only Olympic gold at Atlanta in 1996.

While Lee retired in 2004 and turned to work as a TV commentator, Wong continues pursuing his dream of an Olympic medal while also helping younger cyclists in Hong Kong.

"There are more and more cycling talents emerging in Hong Kong. I'm old and willing to share my experience with them. I'm happy to see them improving," he said.