Hong Kong eyes more Olympic tickets as track cycling Worlds get under way in Berlin
- Star rider Sarah Lee will be defending sprint and keirin world titles against powerful rivals from Australia, Russia and Germany
- Hong Kong is also chasing Tokyo 2020 berths in men’s and women’s madison in final round of qualification
While top cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze has the daunting task of defending her two titles against a strong field at the track world championships, which begin in Berlin on Wednesday, the Hong Kong team will be aiming to ensure more teammates join Lee in Tokyo this summer.
The Berlin Worlds mark the end of the 10-round 2020 Olympic qualification period, and the International Cycling Union’s rankings list to be published on Monday will help determine the final Olympic fields.
Lee is certain to qualify in the sprint and keirin and will be a serious medal challenger in Tokyo. The men’s madison pair of Cheung King-lok and Leung Chun-wing, and the women’s pair of Pang Yao and Leung Bo-yee, are still fighting for Olympic tickets.
If both pairs qualify, they can each bring an additional berth in the omnium, a combined event on the track akin to the heptathlon in athletics. Likewise, Lee’s qualification in the two events that she is defending in Berlin can bring two additional berths for Hong Kong in the same disciplines, and Jessica Lee Hoi-yan, who is competing along with Lee in Berlin, will benefit.
“Our target is to send riders in all these six events to the Tokyo Games and it will be known soon if we can make it,” said Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak. “They have been training in Europe for almost a month to avoid the coronavirus in Hong Kong. They should be in top form and able to challenge the world’s best.
