Snooker and tennis could be spared axe, Hong Kong chiefs eye change to elite status rule
Two sports were in danger of losing vital support after athletes fell short of required success, but Hong Kong officials could tweak criteria
More sports in Hong Kong could qualify for elite status at the city’s Sports Institute and several under threat of being downgraded were expected to be thrown a lifeline, with officials considering changes to how they judge success, the Post has learned.
Snooker and tennis are among those who could benefit from the move, with neither sport having met the current criteria to maintain their Tier A rankings.
For a sport to be considered elite, its athletes must qualify for the Olympics or Asian Games, and maintain a certain level of success in international competition.
Sources said the rules required some “minor modifications”, and that was expected to result in a bigger pool of sports that qualified for support through the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
The Elite Sports Committee was scheduled to meet on Monday to seek a consensus regarding the looming changes, and one committee member said the move was designed to aid the continued development of billiard sports – snooker and pool – in the city.
The source cited the relaxation of the minimum age limit for visiting licensed billiard establishments, among other changes in relevant laws and regulations, as an example.