New World Harbour Race: Kwok makes sure he doesn’t repeat mistakes of the past, while Wong leaves it late in women’s race
- Kwok Chun-hei claims men’s title to ensure double family celebration at grandfather’s birthday lunch
- The Hong Kong swimmer finished third last year after going the wrong way, but ensured that didn’t happen again
More than 1,200 swimmers turned out for the New World Harbour Race on Sunday, although one unfortunate athlete was forced to withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19.
Crossing the one-kilometre route from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui, Kwok Chun-hei, a member of the Hong Kong team, won the men’s race in a time of 14 minutes and 25.6 seconds, while Athena Wong Ching-lam claimed the women’s title in 15:11.4.
Kwok, who came third last year, spent Saturday studying the course so he did not make the same mistake as in 2021, when he went the wrong way when leading.
“I swam the wrong way midway through the race last year and therefore I went to both Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday to check the course to make sure not making the same mistake,” said Kwok, who competes over 800m and 1,500m in the pool.
“But I still missed the finishing board today and fortunately I have built up a sufficient lead over my rivals and still managed to be the first to touch the bell.”
Kwok’s win meant there was a double celebration in the family, with his grandfather’s birthday lunch take place as well.
“They all came to see me and we will go to a nearby restaurant for a buffet to celebrate my win and grandfather’s birthday,” the Baptist University student said.
Wong, meanwhile, said she thought the course had been better this year than last, especially when it came to the quality of the water, which in 2021 smelled “something like petrol”.
