Hong Kong China Rowing Association

The Hong Kong women’s lightweight double scull of LEE Ka Man and LEE Yuen Yin have been awarded a place for the Olympic Games in Rio at the conclusion of the Asia and Oceania qualifying process. Sisters, Ka Man and Yuen Yin, were devastated after the qualification regatta in Korea last month, having missed out in a photo-finish with Korea and Vietnam. Each country however is only allowed to qualify one men’s and one women’s boat at the continental event. Where a country qualifies in more than one event, they must choose which one to take. Korea and Vietnam both qualified two women’s boats and, as a result, a place in the double sculls event has been awarded to Hong Kong.

This is the second time for Ka Man to qualify for the Olympic Games, having competed in the open singles in Beijing in 2008. For her younger sister however Rio will be her first Olympic experience.

“We have been feeling so sad and down since the competition in Korea. Missing out by such a narrow margin in such an important race is really hard to accept – even though we both rowed the best race of our lives. Now we have been given a new chance, we will definitely make the most of it and move up to an even higher level for the Games”, noted Ka Man.

The crew will now join the men’s lightweight double of TANG Chiu Mang and CHIU Hin Chun on an intensive phase of pre-Olympic preparation, with races in Japan and Poland, and training camps in Germany and Belgium before flying to Rio at the beginning of August.

Head Coach Chris PERRY was satisfied with the progress of the team so far.

“We peaked well for the qualification in Korea and all of our crews put in exceptional performances. We have now qualified the maximum number of boats possible under the continental qualification process and the focus now is to rebuild our power and technique before peaking again for Rio. There is still a long road ahead in terms of training – qualifying is only the starting point. The lightweight doubles events are amongst the most competitive in the entire Olympic programme and, with all crews averaging the same body weight, technical ability and power are always key”.

Hong Kong has qualified rowing athletes for every Olympic Games since Barcelona in 1992 but this will be the first time Hong Kong has been represented in the women’s lightweight doubles.

The Hong Kong, China Rowing Association would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ka Man and Yin Yuen and hope that they will get full gear to prepare for the Olympic Games together with Chiu Mang and Hin Chun for their road to Rio!