Top Chinese badminton athletes rousing a new excitement in schools

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Four top Chinese badminton athletes invited to Hong Kong by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) for staging a series of roving demonstrations visited the Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School (Hung Hom Bay) today (December 11) rousing a new excitement in the badminton sport among students.

The four badminton players included Mr Chen Gang, gold medallist in Men's Singles in the 8th National Games of the People's Republic of China and title holder of the Asian Championship in 1996 and World Youth Championship in 1994; Ms Xie Qiong, second runner-up of national youth championship in 2000 ; Mr Chen Yin-jian who ranked third in national youth championship in 1999; and Ms Li Xian, third runner-up of Women's Singles in the 8th National Games of the People's Republic of China and ranked eighth in the national championship in 1999. They gave a demonstration to over 300 students and teachers at the school, which was followed by a performance of a competition and a coaching session.

Apart from the Chinese athletes, two leading Hong Kong players, Ms Ling Wan-ting, gold medallist in Women's Singles in Mexico International 1999; and Mr Yau Kwun-yuen, gold medallist in Men's Doubles in New Zealand Open 2000, who have been appointed School Sports Ambassadors, took part in a play-in session with students.

The excitement heightened when the students were given a chance to play a quiz game with the Chinese athletes and to receive prizes from and take pictures with them.

Assisted by the Hong Kong Badminton Association, the visit was one of the sport demonstration series under the Sport Education Programme which forms part of the School Sports Programme jointly organised by the LCSD and the Education Department and is aimed at promoting students' interests in sports at an early stage.

Today's visit was one of the four school tours conducted by the Chinese athletes. Their last demonstration to the public would take place tonight at To Kwa Wan IGH from 7 pm to 9 pm.

To capture the interest of students in their school years, LCSD has commenced a series of sports demonstrations in primary, secondary and special schools over the territory since September this year, including basketball, rowing, cricket, fencing, gateball, artistic gymnastics, handball, judo, karatedo, climbing, netball, rugby football, shuttlecock, squash, table tennis, orienteering and windsurfing.

At present, the LCSD has received 699 applications for sport demonstrations from 295 primary, secondary and special schools. Schools which are interested in joining the Programme can download the application form from the LCSD website at www.lcsd.gov.hk or contact the LCSD's Community Sports Team at 2601 8861 for details.

End/Tuesday, December 11, 2001

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