- Top-seeded Hong Kong women’s team tipped to book Olympic ticket in Portugal qualifying event
- Men’s counterparts face a tough draw with top player Wong Chun-ting still troubled by foot injuries
A women's Hong Kong team comprising all home-grown talents are favoured to book their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but their men's counterparts face a tough battle as the world team qualification kicks off in Gondomar, Portugal on Wednesday.
Former mainland women's players have always been part of the mix for Hong Kong since the team event was introduced at the 2008 Beijing Games, but now local starlets Doo Hoi-kem, Lee Ho-ching and Minnie So Wai-yam are ready to take on the full responsibility as they lead the team along with Ng Wing-nam and Zhu Chengzhu.
Ranked number one in the 30-team qualifiers following the absence of heavyweights China, Japan and Germany, who have all made it to Tokyo as either continental champions or the hosts, Hong Kong are likely to string of appearance in the Olympics, helped by a relatively weak draw.
As the number one seeds, they only have to beat winners of the previous-round match between Thailand and Belarus in Portugal before securing the all-important ticket, although head coach Chan Kong-wah remained cautious as always.
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"We have gone through an intensive training camp in Beijing for the world qualifiers and the players are all ready to go," he said. "But we still have to prove it on the court and anything can happen as every team wants to pursue the Olympic dream."
The 30 teams are put in a draw of 32 with only Hong Kong, the world number three and second seeds Taiwan given a bye in the first round. All quarter-finalists can obtain the ticket to Tokyo while all eight losers will compete for the remaining one ticket.
Hong Kong was represented by a team made up solely of former mainlanders at the 2008 Beijing Games, headed by now retired Tie Yana. Tie continued to lead the team until the Rio Games four years ago, but now needs to pass the baton to the local younger generation.
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In the men's event where 34 teams are featured, Hong Kong are outside the top eight seeds, ranked 10th. They will meet Singapore in the round of 16 and, if they go through, they will meet the winners of another match between Austria and Serbia for the Tokyo ticket. Austria are the sixth seeds, headed by world number 35 Robert Cardos.
With top player Wong Chun-ting, the world number 19, still troubled by a foot injury, coach Chan kept his fingers crossed.
"At stake is the Olympic ticket and all our players are determined to get it," said Chan. "But Austria is not easy to handle and we need some strong performances to overcome them. The men's team has also been at the Olympics since 2008 Beijing Games and no one wants to miss this time."
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A team qualifying for the Tokyo Games will also be allowed to send two players in the singles competition. In the fifth event, the mixed doubles inaugurated in Tokyo, Hong Kong's Wong and Doo have already qualified after reaching the semi-finals of the event at the grand finals in China last month.
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