Coleman Wong has nothing to fear, can take down any of his National Games rivals, coach says
Draw for men’s singles keeps Coleman Wong away from tennis tournament’s ‘big dogs’. Women’s event blown wide open after Zheng Qinwen withdraws
A “pumped and motivated” Coleman Wong Chak-lam has been told he “does not have to be scared” of any of his rivals for National Games honours.
Hong Kong favourite Wong will begin his medal quest against Shanxi’s unheralded 20-year-old Duan Hao on Friday.
Wednesday’s draw in Zhuhai was dealt a blow before it even started with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen withdrawing from the women’s singles because she had failed to fully recover from the elbow injury that has blighted the second half of her season.
Wong, who could potentially meet 2018 Asian Games silver medallist Wu Yubing in the last four, has been in sound form. He reached a Challenger Series final in Seoul last month, before advancing to the semi-finals of this month’s Taipei Challenger event.
James Allemby, Wong’s coach, said his charge was “not too toast” at the end of a long season.
“He really enjoyed Seoul and he likes tournaments in Asia because he gets to go home,” Allemby said. “If he’s spent a long time away, he’ll become more mentally tired, but he’s had a couple of days back home before the Games.