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HK surfers worry about heavy winds in Guangzhou

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-04 14:14

Hong Kong windsurfer Chan Wai-kei in file photo. [Photo/Xinhua]

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong windsurfers, leaving for Shanwei in a couple of days, were all ready for the Asian Games while the possible heavy wind remained the only concern.

Head coach Rene Appel said here on Wednesday that the competitions of the upcoming Asian Games will be very difficult as the sailing area of Shanwei, about 270 kilometers east of Guangzhou, are usually very windy in Novembers.

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"Normally, we train in light winds here in Hong Kong, so we are not used to heavy winds very much," said Chan Wai-kei, women's mistral runner-up in the Doha Asiad. "The competitions will be very tough for us this time."

Chan Wai-kei, 29, told reporters that she will vie for a gold medal in the Olympic class Rs:X in her second attempt at the Asian Games, disclosing that she and her teammates have been preparing for the winds and waves.

"We were training in Britain for almost the whole August and then went to Taiwan in October to practise in heavy winds," she said. "I would say, we have done all that we could for the Asian Games."

Chan Wai-kei and Cheng Kwok-fai, an Asiad debutant in the men's Rs:X, have trained for two weeks in Shanwei in September. However, it was considered of little comparability in the aspect of weather condition as the winds in November would be much stronger.

Therefore, the opponents from the Chinese national team, who are good at surfing in heavy winds, are considered as the biggest threat to the HK surfers.

"They are tall in shape and can be faster in heavy winds than me," said Chan. "But comparing with the result, I care more about my performance. The Asian Games after all is a preparation for the London Olympics, which is my prime goal."

Chan King-yin, the winner of the men's Rs:X in Doha, gave up his reigning chance and will participate in the Mistral class this time, while a junior world champion Chan Hei-man will take part in the women's Mistral.

The Hong Kong surfers are leaving for Shanwei on Friday (Nov 5) while the sailing competitions kick off on Nov 14.