Tokyo 2020: Hong Kong’s Kenneth Cheng back in Olympic equestrian fray after FEI revises qualifying results
- The Beijing Olympian thought he was out of the Tokyo Games after finishing third in the rankings – until FEI promoted him back to No 2
- Hong Kong will have two riders at the Olympic equestrianism competition after Tom Ho qualified for the eventing competition
Showjumping specialist Kenneth Cheng’s Olympic ambitions are back on track, five weeks after a heartbreaking setback that appeared to shatter the Hong Kong rider’s Tokyo 2020 dreams.
The 31-year-old Beijing Games Olympian benefits from a major revision by world governing body FEI, which has invalidated some results from January’s Villeneuve-Loubet qualifiers in France – allowing Cheng to rise to second in the points ranking and earn Hong Kong a place in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
However, while Cheng’s Olympics hopes are revived, he must still fight it out with teammates Raena Leung, Patrick Lam, Jacqueline Lai and Clarissa Lyra for the one Hong Kong spot in the Tokyo showjumping competition.
“It is great news that we have qualified two athletes for the Olympic Games, along with two also for the Paralympic Games,” said Amanda Bond, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s equestrian affairs executive manager.
“Kenneth has earned the slot [for Hong Kong], but still requires the certificate of capability, which needs to be gained by achieving results in certain international events before the deadline of June 1.
“A number of Hong Kong athletes are likely to attempt to achieve this, and if successful, then a selection process will decide which of them will go to Tokyo.”
