Hong Kong eye long-term prize
Saturday, 30 October 2010
HONG KONG, Oct 29 (AFP): Hong Kong take their biggest ever team to an Asian Games for the short trip north to Guangzhou, hoping to put on a sparkling performance as the territory eyes an ambitious bid to hold the event in 2023.
Hong Kong, guaranteed warm support in China from the home crowd, will be hoping to ride on a wave of confidence inspired by a successful East Asian Games last year, where as hosts they picked up 26 golds, their best-ever tally.
Nearly 40,000 fans packed Hong Kong stadium to see the home side beat a young Japan team 4-2 on penalties to win a shock football gold at the East Asian Games in December last year in front of an ecstatic crowd.
Hong Kong, which is 140 kilometres (85 miles) from Guangzhou, also enjoyed notable success at the East Asian Games in badminton, squash and table tennis, sports in which it is traditionally strong.
But the competition will be far tougher in November, where with a population of seven million people, Hong Kong will be dwarfed by most of the other nations or territories taking part.
The Hong Kong government hopes a strong showing from its 400 competitors will convince a sceptical audience back home that the event is worth hosting in 2023.
"We are sending our largest squad because we want to put on a good show since we are bidding for the 2023 Asian Games," said Pang Chung, secretary general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, guaranteed warm support in China from the home crowd, will be hoping to ride on a wave of confidence inspired by a successful East Asian Games last year, where as hosts they picked up 26 golds, their best-ever tally.
Nearly 40,000 fans packed Hong Kong stadium to see the home side beat a young Japan team 4-2 on penalties to win a shock football gold at the East Asian Games in December last year in front of an ecstatic crowd.
Hong Kong, which is 140 kilometres (85 miles) from Guangzhou, also enjoyed notable success at the East Asian Games in badminton, squash and table tennis, sports in which it is traditionally strong.
But the competition will be far tougher in November, where with a population of seven million people, Hong Kong will be dwarfed by most of the other nations or territories taking part.
The Hong Kong government hopes a strong showing from its 400 competitors will convince a sceptical audience back home that the event is worth hosting in 2023.
"We are sending our largest squad because we want to put on a good show since we are bidding for the 2023 Asian Games," said Pang Chung, secretary general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong.