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Hong Kong sprinter Leung Kwan-yi holds back tears of disappointment despite 100m win

The 24-year-old university student fails to clock the 11.80-second time that would have won her a spot in the National Games squad

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Leung Kwan-yi finished ahead of five others but her time was not fast enough to help her qualify for the Hong Kong team. Photo: Edmond So

There was nothing but disappointment for sprinter Leung Kwan-yi despite winning the women’s 100m final at the Hong Kong Athletics Series on Saturday.

With the meet at Wan Chai Sports Ground the final chance for local athletes to qualify for the city’s National Games squad, Leung had to hold back her tears after she failed to clock a time better than her 12.12 seconds, which put her ahead of five other sprinters on the day.

With Hong Kong co-hosting the November Games with Guangdong and Macau, the city can send up to three athletes and one relay team in each event without meeting the qualifying standards.

The three who will represent Hong Kong at the women’s 100m sprint at the National Games are Chan Pui-kei, Kong Chun-ki and Chloe Pak Hoi-man.

Pak, who qualified for Saturday’s final in second but had to withdraw for precautionary reasons, clocked 11.84 at last month’s Hong Kong Athletics Championships to snatch the third spot on the Games list.

Leung Kwan-yi (right) won the 100m final with Lee Hau-yi (left) finishing second. Photo: Edmond So
Leung Kwan-yi (right) won the 100m final with Lee Hau-yi (left) finishing second. Photo: Edmond So

The Hong Kong University student, who also missed the women’s 100m hurdles final, was carrying a mild strain entering the weekend. The 19-year-old is expected to travel to Germany in three weeks alongside 74 other athletes for the World University Games, which runs from July 16 to 27 in Rhine-Ruhr.

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