World Athletics Championships: Hong Kong’s Vera Lui to fulfil dream after surprise call-up
The 30-year-old, who becomes the first hurdler from the city to take part in the event in 14 years, got a wild card late last month
Asian Games bronze medallist Vera Lui Lai-yiu will fulfil her childhood dream this weekend when she becomes the first Hong Kong hurdler to compete at the World Athletics Championships in 14 years.
Hong Kong was handed a wild card to compete at the event in Tokyo, and Lui was only told two weeks ago that she would be her city’s sole representative.
The championships open at the National Stadium on Saturday and end on September 21. The 30-year-old will race in the 100m hurdles on Sunday.
“To be in the world championships has been my dream since high school,” Lui told the Post from her hotel in Tokyo.
“Back then, it was the 2011 championships in Daegu, South Korea. And my teammate [Aggie Poon Pak-yan] got the wild card to go. I remember thinking, ‘This is so cool; one day, I want to do the same’.”
Poon, who also represented Hong Kong in rugby sevens and 15s, finished 36th in the heats in 14.04 seconds.