National Games: Hong Kong Olympian tipped to bring home sailing gold
Nicholas Halliday will arrive in Guangdong lifted by a notable victory on the elite-level Grand Slam circuit
National Games debutant Peter Jessop has so much faith in his Hong Kong sailing teammate Nicholas Halliday that he is tipping him for gold at the multi-sport extravaganza later this month.
The 17-year-old Jessop said on Wednesday that he hoped to emerge from the men’s single dinghy preliminaries to join the already qualified Halliday in the finals off the coast of eastern Guangdong province.
But he had no doubts over the prospects for his role model, the reigning Asian champion Halliday.
“For sure he’ll get a gold medal, I am confident,” said Jessop, who was born in Indonesia to an Indonesian mother and an English father, and moved to Hong Kong aged six.
“Nick will at least get a podium result, but I’m sure he’ll win it if everything goes right.”
The sailing events will take place from October 20 to 30, ahead of the official Games period in November. It will be a second edition for Halliday, who will arrive buoyed by winning an event on this year’s Sailing Grand Slam circuit, contested between Olympic sailors.