Hong Kong athletics boss ‘optimistic’ 10K Championships will proceed with 3,000 runners
- Sun Hung Kai Properties 10K Championships returns in January and despite not yet receiving official approval, organisers confident the event will go ahead as planned
- Crystal Vut, the defending women’s champion, confirmed her participation and will use the event as a warm up for her 2023 competition schedule
Organisers of the Sun Hung Kai Properties 10K Championships have yet to receive official government approval, but racers have already flocked to register for the January 2023 race, with Challenge group runners already oversubscribed.
The annual event was cancelled in August after last-minute Covid-19 restrictions limited the number of runners to 500 just days before the event.
A total of 3,000 slots have now been targeted for the race in Tin Shui Wai on January 8, with 500 reserved for elite runners in the Challenger group.
Organisers received more than 550 applicants between November 11 and 15, with the best 500 to be accepted on their submitted results. Non-Challenge group registrations will begin on Tuesday.
“We opened the entry application for the Challenge race last week, though we are still waiting for Department of Health approval,” Dennis Ng Yu-ho, executive director of Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA), said.
“We spoke with the relevant government parties since October, and they verbally said no problem. We hope they can confirm with us within this month, our main concern is the 500 runner restriction can be lifted,” Ng said.
