bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Paul McNamara

Jason Ng Tai-long has decided to take an extended break from triathlon after “struggling for motivation” following his Olympic Games ordeal in Paris.
After finishing fifth in an Asia Triathlon Cup event in Hong Kong on Sunday, Ng said he had felt “a bit lost” following the race in the French capital, where he withdrew during the cycling leg after a torn wetsuit during the opening swim caused him to lose touch with the field.
Ng, who has been speaking to a sports psychologist, said the Central Harbourfront sprint-distance race was “all about finding my love for racing again”.
The 24-year-old did not locate the feeling he wanted, however, and confirmed he would miss impending World Cup legs in South Korea and Japan to have some “quality time” away from the sport.

The Hong Kong race was won by Lachlan Jones, whose fellow Australian Brayden Mercer came home second. Third went to Japan’s Ryoya Tamazaki.
Ng, in fifth, was sandwiched by fellow Hongkongers, in fourth-placed Oscar Coggins, who said he was a “couple of per cent off” being able to match the breakaway Australian duo, and sixth-placed Wong Tsz-to.
Ng, who competed in the Poland-staged World Triathlon University Games a month after his Olympics setback, came out of the water third following a “decent swim”. He was isolated on the bike, however, and chose to wait for the chasing pack.
“My fitness is not quite there,” he said. “I am not trying to be race fit, so there is nothing I can do about it.”
Ng resumed full training a fortnight ago but acknowledged, “maybe that still wasn’t properly”.
“I’ve had a little bit of a struggle with motivation after what happened in Paris,” Ng said. “It’s been difficult the past couple of months, so I’ve just been working through that, making sure I’m taking care of myself, and seeing a sports psychologist.”
Asked if his love for the sport was intact, Ng said: “Not really, if I’m being completely honest. I was a bit lost after Paris, but hopefully come next season I will be back.
“This is a sport I’ve known and loved for years. I wasn’t in the mood to race, but deep down, I know I still love the sport and I will get back my desire.”
While Coggins and two more Hongkongers, Robin Elg and Mark Yu Shing-him, will compete in season-ending World Cup races in Tongyeong on October 26 and Miyazaki on November 9, Ng has drawn a line under his 2024 campaign.
“I will give myself a complete break because I never got that after Paris,” Ng said. “We raced in Poland, so I was having to try to make myself train. I am looking forward to some quality time off.”
Coggins is trending in the opposite direction. He had his own break from the sport to manage physical and mental issues following last year’s Asian Games, but added a “solid” performance on home turf to an encouraging display at last month’s World Triathlon Series [WTS] leg in Weihai.
“It was my first time racing at elite level on this course, so I was happy to be back here,” Coggins said. “If I was feeling at my best, I would have been able to swim with the Australian guys. I was probably eight or nine out of 10.”
Bailee Brown, meanwhile, secured a podium finish in a women’s race won by another Australian, Zoe Clarke. Zsofia Kovacs of Hungary claimed second.

Hongkonger Brown, 24, who made her WTS debut in Weihai, said she could not afford to prioritise her home event so close to the forthcoming World Cup races.
“We came into this with the mindset that it was a practice race, we didn’t taper for it,” Brown said. “It felt like practising the mental aspect of racing … but I was feeling a bit flat.
“We had some really hard training days this week. Two days ago, we did a big track session and a really big swim, and [today] my legs were gone. I am happy I pulled through it.”


Hong Kong’s rising triathlon stars urged to chase senior glory, National Games targeted

Asia Rugby Sevens Series: Hong Kong teams cruise into semis as men’s debutants make mark

Hong Kong triathlete Elg storms to Asia U23 title, warning for Choi after Japan World Cup race

China’s most decorated gymnast hails Hong Kong Olympic star Shek’s ‘brilliant career’

Hong Kong Sports Institute

Hong Kong Olympian Jason Ng felt ‘lost’ after Paris woe, will take break from triathlon

Jason Ng endured a disappointing Olympic triathlon race in Paris. Photo: Reuters

Ng was fifth in the Asia Triathlon Cup leg in Hong Hong on Sunday. Photo: IG@jason_ng_tai_long

Oscar Coggins is making progress following his competitive comeback. Photo: Facebook/Oscar Coggins

Hongkonger has eyes on next goal after conquering her demons at Ironman World Championship

Ruby Cheng raises her arms in triumph after coming home in 12 hours, one minute and 51 seconds for 282nd place. Photo: Ruby Cheng

Cheng had a bad experience on her previous bike ride in Nice, but ‘conquered my fears’ this time. Photo: Ruby Cheng

Cheng is congratulated by supporters lining the road towards the Nice race finish. Photo: Ruby Cheng

World Triathlon Championship Series: Hong Kong star Coggins’ great return, more gold for Yee

Oscar Coggins continued his comeback with a stellar showing in Weihai. Photo: Handout

Bailee Brown will race in Hong Kong next month after finishing 25th in the world championship event. Photo: Elson Li

Olympic gold medallist Alex Yee saw off another world-class field in mainland China. Photo: AP

Hong Kong Olympian Oscar Coggins in ‘best place ever’ before China world championship race

Oscar Coggins (second left) is taking a major step on his comeback trail in Weihai, but Jason Ng (third left) will miss the Chinese race. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Paris Olympics bronze and gold medallists Leo Bergere and Alex Yee will compete in Weihai. Photo: DPA

Robin Elg is almost ‘world class’ in triathlon’s swimming and cycling disciplines, says Andrew Wright. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong triathlon needs to up its game after Olympic failure, says head coach

Hong Kong’s Jason Ng sits in a van after withdrawing during the men’s individual triathlon at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Xinhua

Jason Ng cycles alone during the bike leg of the men’s triathlon. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Outdoor

Fifth place in Hong Kong-hosted Asia Triathlon Cup race masks deeper concerns for Jason Ng, who vows to ‘get back my desire’


Fifth place in Hong Kong-hosted Asia Triathlon Cup race masks deeper concerns for Jason Ng, who vows to ‘get back my desire’.


Triathlon