Teen opens HK's account

At just 13 years of age, Ng Cheukyan, the rising star of Hong Kong, China's Paralympic scene, has already established herself as a regular presence on the winner's podium.

With a personal best time of 1:33.37, Ng, one of the youngest athletes at the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, won the bronze medal in women's 100m backstroke S6 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Aquatic Sports Arena on Monday.

Gold and silver were pocketed by Chinese swimmers Jiang Yuyan and Zhu Ji, respectively. Jiang posted a new Asian record with a time of 1:20.58.

"I was a bit nervous and she (Jiang) was too fast that I couldn't catch up," said Ng.

As it was the first medal for Hong Kong at the Games, Ng said she was nervous, but felt honored.

"I am truly thrilled. I never imagined I'd be the first to secure a medal for the Hong Kong team," she exclaimed.

In the audience, there were dozens of spectators who have traveled from Hong Kong to cheer the athletes competing in the Asian Para Games.

Seeing the crowd also got Ng excited. "I'd like to extend my gratitude to my coach and my family for their unwavering support and encouragement, which have been the driving force behind my pursuit of better results," she said.

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, Kevin Yeung, congratulated Ng on her remarkable achievement.

"Ng gave it her all in the competition and won the first medal for Hong Kong. It will encourage many other Hong Kong athletes. I'm looking forward to seeing more breakthroughs made by the Hong Kong team and success in more events," Yeung said.

Ng started swimming at just three years old, starting to train properly around five years ago. "It's good for my health and I like it," she said.

Ng is sponsored by Hong Kong Sports Institute, which provides training facilities and coaches for elite athletes.

Each day she trains there for around two hours after school, and it didn't take long before she started to shine at international events.

Women's 100 breaststroke is Ng's most competitive event. In May, she won a bronze medal in the same event at the Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore.

In August, she just came in second in the women's 100m breaststroke SB6 event with a time of 1:35.23 in the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester.

The achievement made her Hong Kong's youngest medalist ever at the World Para Swimming Championships and earned the team a ticket to compete at the Paralympic Games in Paris next year.

Kong Chun-yin started to coach Ng in 2018. "Ng is a diligent and serious child, and she also has a good understanding of the sport," he said.

He is satisfied with her performance in her Asian Para Games debut.

"I hope that, in her future competitions at the Asian Para Games, she will become stronger with each battle and give her all next year to make it onto the podium at the Paralympic Games in Paris."