PARIS OLYMPICS 2024: WITH 100 DAYS TO GO, HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HONG KONG’S SQUAD, WHO’S QUALIFIED AND WHO HASN’T

The city's athletes have secured just 20 places so far at this summer's multi-sport event, but several more are still in the running for places
Among them are participants in triathlon, gymnastics and athletics, but there will be no place for men's teams in fencing nor table tennis

With only a 100 days to go to the Olympic Games, Hong Kong looks likely to send a smaller squad to Paris than the history-making one that claimed six medals in Tokyo three years ago.

So far, the city's athletes have secured just 20 places at this summer's multi-sport event, well down on the 46 that made up the delegation to Japan.

While several are still hoping to qualify in sports such as triathlon, gymnastics and athletics, there will be no place for the men's teams in either fencing or table tennis. There is also no spot for Grace Lau Mo-sheung, with karate dropped by the International Olympic Committee.

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Here is a look at who has qualified, and who still might:

Athletics

The sport is not one of Hong Kong's strengths, and the city needed a male universality slot from the IAAF for Chan Chung-wang to compete in Tokyo in the men's 110m hurdles, where he finished last in his heat.

The only qualifier in 2021 was racewalker Ching Siu-nga, who will be looking to attend her second Games, although this time she will be hoping partner Chin Man-kit is alongside her in the new marathon mixed-relay.

The pair could qualify if they finish in the top 22 at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, on Sunday in Antalya, Turkey. There are three more spots up for grabs, based on rankings, with the qualification period ending on June 30.

Badminton

Badminton duo Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet, who rank No 7 on the qualifications table, are expected to compete together for their second Games, with 16 pairs set to compete at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena from July 27.

The pair finished fourth in Tokyo, losing the bronze-medal match to Japan's Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino 21-17, 23-21.

Also in line to qualify through world rankings at the April 30 cut-off date are Games debutants Lee Cheuk-yiu in the men's singles, Happy Lo Sin-yan in the women's singles, as well as women's doubles pair Yeung Nga-ting and Yeung Pui-lam.

If all make it, badminton would have its biggest squad since seven athletes reached the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Cycling

The retirement of Sarah Lee Wai-sze has left a gaping hole in the city's medal hopes, although youngster Ceci Lee Sze-wing is expected to qualify for the women's omnium via the world rankings.

The Asian Games silver medallist could also represent the city in the women's road race depending on her performance in Hong Kong's selection events.

"We will have a meeting with the cycling association after April 21 when the cycling quota will be released," Herve Dagorne, head coach of the city's cycling team, said.

Up to two more riders will head to Paris after the city also secured one slot each for the men's and women's road races, on August 3 and 4, respectively.

Fencing

In contrast to Tokyo, there will be no men's or women's teams representing Hong Kong at the Paris Olympics.

Reigning men's foil individual champion Cheung Ka-long will be one of just three to take part, alongside world No 1 women's epeeist Vivian Kong Man-wai, who is heading to her third Olympics, and teenage debutant Daphne Chan Nok-sze, who won women's foil individual bronze medal at the Asian Games last September.

Golf

With Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching, who took part in Tokyo, out of the running, all eyes are on Asian Tour rookie of the year Taichi Kho.

Currently a second replacement and ranked 393 in the world, the 23-year-old needs to chase down the Philippines' Miguel Tabuena (384), and Finland's Kalle Samooja (355), who occupies the 60th and last spot in the Olympic qualifications list.

While Samooja plays on the LIV Golf circuit and has limited access to ranking points, Tabuena and Kho have multiple Asian Tour events to improve their standings ahead of the June 17 cut-off date, starting at this week's Saudi Open in Riyadh.

Gymnastics

Another sport with a dearth of talent where Hong Kong is concerned, two-time Olympian Stone Shek Wai-hung is in contention to make his third Games appearance, if he finishes in the top three at the fourth and final qualification event in Doha, Qatar this week, that is.

With the top two gymnasts per event heading to Paris, the veteran from Hong Kong, who previously competed in London and Tokyo, currently ranks second behind Mahdi Olfati of Iran, while the 32-year-old also enjoys a 14- and 17-point lead over Australian James Bacueti and Tseng Wei-sheng of Taiwan.

Sailing

With windsurfing switching from the RS:X to the iQFoil, Mui Ma Kwan-ching is the city's only representative this time out who will be standing on the water.

Sitting down will be Nicholas Halliday in the ILCA 7 class. The first Hongkonger to reach a Games by winning an Olympics qualifier, Halliday won the Asian Sailing Championships in the single-handed dinghy event.

Swimming

Of the 20 spots, swimming has nearly half of those and Hong Kong's best hope for a medal, Siobhan Haughey, accounts for five.

Aside from racing in the 100m and the 200m freestyle - in which she won silver three years ago - the four-time world champion has also qualified for the 50m and 400m freestyle and the 100m breaststroke.

Cindy Cheung Sum-yuet will make her Games debut in the women's 200m backstroke, while Ian Ho Yentou has made the 50m freestyle cut, after also doing so at the Tokyo Games.

Table Tennis

While the men's team is out of the equation, Wong Chun-ting and Lam Siu-hang, who are both ranked inside the top 100, are expected to qualify in the singles events, where a maximum of 70 players per gender are allowed.

Wong and Doo Hoi-kem, who is expected to feature in the women's singles as well as the team event, will also compete in the mixed doubles after clinching qualification at the first time of asking in the Czech Republic last week.

Tennis

Theoretically, Coleman Wong Chak-lam could add to his growing reputation by securing a spot among the game's elite in Paris, although it will take some doing.

Currently ranked 183 in the world, the 19-year-old will need to have several huge weeks before the qualification cut-off on June 19, when he would need to be much closer to the top 100.

However, considering the two-time junior grand slam doubles champion was No 253 at the turn of the year, nothing is impossible.

Triathlon

No Oscar Coggins, but Jason Ng Tai-long is on course to compete in his first Games.

The 24-year-old is ahead of Kazakh rival Ayan Beisenbayev and can seal his place in Paris if he remains in that position after Sunday's Asian Championships in Hatsukaichi, Japan.