Hong Kong snatch triathlon bronze after rival disqualified
Sichuan disqualification lifts Hong Kong into third in Taizhou, but coach plays down result with focus on National Games selection
Hong Kong’s mixed relay team earned a surprise bronze medal at the Asia Triathlon Cup in Taizhou on Sunday, thanks to the disqualification of one of the teams ahead of them.
Crossing the line in fourth, the quartet of Wong Tsz-to, Nick Tsang Cheung-sing, and Cade and Tallulah Wright were bumped up a spot after Sichuan failed to serve a race penalty. Shandong took gold in 1:35.07, ahead of Liaoning (1:36.30), with Hong Kong clocking 1:37.33.
Despite the podium finish, head coach Andrew Wright downplayed the result, saying the event was “not really significant” after Wong, Tsang and the Wright sisters also competed in individual events on Saturday.
“We didn’t have our strongest team and some of the provinces had fresh athletes who didn’t race in the individual events,” he added.
Bailee Brown and Mark Yu Shing-him would have been first picks for the relay, but they had suffered extreme fatigue and dehydration that forced them to withdraw close to the end of their individual races.
“If athletes don’t finish, then I don’t like choosing them for relays unless I have to,” Wright said.