Olympics: Hong Kong sailing duo Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth book their spots at Paris 2024
- Pair will compete in the 49er sailing event and join fellow sailor Nicholas Halliday at Games
- They qualified on Friday by finishing seventh at the 55th French Olympic Week Last Chance Regatta
Hong Kong sailing duo and Asian Games bronze medallists Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth clinched their place at the Paris Olympics on Friday by finishing seventh at the 55th French Olympic Week Last Chance Regatta.
The pair will compete in the 49er sailing event and join fellow sailor Nicholas Halliday, who qualified for the ILCA7 single-handed dinghy event at the Summer Games in July and August.
“The Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China is extremely proud that our sailors have once again qualified for the Olympic Games,” a spokesperson said. “They have worked incredibly hard to get these results and we look forward to seeing them race in Paris this summer.”
Despite the small delegation, several athletes competing in events such as triathlon, gymnastics, badminton and athletics could still make it for Hong Kong.
But there will be no place for the men’s teams in either fencing or table tennis, as is the same for world No 1 Grace Lau Mo-sheung, with karate dropped by the International Olympic Committee.
Those who have already qualified include reigning men’s foil individual champion Cheung Ka-long, alongside world No 1 women’s epeeist Vivian Kong Man-wai and teenage debutant Daphne Chan Nok-sze, who won women’s foil individual bronze medal at the Asian Games last September.
While Cheung is among the favourites to pick up another gold, swimmer Siobhan Haughey, who has qualified for six events include two relays, will be looking to join him and improve on her double silver medal in Tokyo.
She will be joined by a swimming team that consists of Ian Ho Yentou, Cindy Cheung Sum-yuet, Tam Hoi-lam, Camille Cheng Lily-mei, Stephanie Au Hoi-shun, Li Sum-yiu and Natalie Kan Cheuk-tung.
Cyclists Lee Wan-yau and Ceci Lee Sze-wing have booked their spot, with the latter also expected to qualify for the women’s omnium.
Two-time Olympian gymnast Stone Shek Wai-hung secured his quota by being one of the highest-ranked eligible athlete in the men’s vault.
Sailors Ma Kwan-ching and Cheng Ching-yin will be at the women’s and men’s IQFoil, respectively.
Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem will represent the city in doubles table tennis and Wong may also make the singles.
Hong Kong rowers also qualified one boat in the men’s single sculls for the Games.
