Hong Kong in hunt for record

Steven Wong (front) of Hong Kong leads the pack during the men's elite final BMX event at the 2009 East Asian Games in Hong Kong on Dec 5, 2009. He is tipped to win the first Asian Games gold in the race. Ed Jones / AFP

GUANGZHOU - Hong Kong of China is sending its biggest squad ever to the Guangzhou Asian Games in the hopes of reaping a record medal haul, which would enhance its bid for the 2023 edition of the games.

Snooker master Marco Fu has been named the flagbearer for Hong Kong at the opening ceremony on Nov 12. The 32-year-old is best known for winning the 2008 UK Championship and he also reached the semifinals of the 2006 World Championship.

At the Asian Games, Fu led Hong Kong to the team championship in 1998 and 2002, and the silver medal in Doha four years ago. He has also won silver in the doubles at the past two Asian Games, but has never squeezed on to the podium in singles.

In Doha, Hong Kong won a record six gold medals, 11 silver and 12 bronze. The most stunning effort was a one-two finish in the women's badminton competition in which Wang Chen defeated Yip Pui-yin in the final.

However, it seems an uphill task for it to repeat that success this time around as Wang retired earlier this year and Yip is still recovering from a leg injury.

The team's biggest loss came when former world No 1 Zhou Mi was banned for for two years, from August, after she failed a drug test.

Zhou won singles gold in 2002 at the Busan Asian Games, where she represented China before switching to Hong Kong.

"It has really messed up our plans. Zhou is a very competitive player and we were originally aiming to win a medal in the team event. Now we can only hope for a miracle," said Wang, who is now the coach of the team.

Hong Kong, which is only 140 kilometers from Guangzhou, is expected to enjoy strong support from the home crowd.

"Hong Kong is very near to Guangzhou. Fans used to watch the Asian Games on TV. This time, family, friends and fellow Hong Kong citizens will be able to support them from the stands. It will encourage our athletes a lot," said Timothy Fok, the president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong.

Veteran cyclist Wong Kam-po, is expected to be Hong Kong's most celebrated athlete in Guangzhou. Once dubbed the "King of Cycling" in Asia, Wong took the gold medal in the individual road race in Doha in 2006, adding to the gold he won in Bangkok in 1998.

The 37-year-old, who admits he is approaching the end of his career, said he hopes the team's young cyclists can grasp the baton soon.

"This will be my fifth Asian Games. Unbelievable," said Wong. "It will probably be my last, but I am still waiting for some young riders to come up and kick me out of the team."

Hong Kong's hopes of landing the 2023 Asian Games have caused some controversy, as the entire venture would reportedly cost about HK$40 billion ($5 million).

AFP contributed to this story.