Leaving Hong Kong comfort zone is key to National Games glory for Vera Lui, Tiffany Yue
Hurdler and long-jumper have their sights set on personal bests as well as National Games medals
Two of Hong Kong’s leading track and field athletes have felt the benefit of time spent outside the city as they target success at this year’s National Games of China.
Sprint hurdler Vera Lui Lai-yiu has told the Post her progress had stalled before she tested herself by training in the United States, while long-jumper Tiffany Yue Nga-yan headed to Britain so she could work with her coach, who had emigrated there.
Lui and Yue are the last two Hong Kong track and field athletes to win medals at the Asian Games. They are chasing personal bests as well as podiums at November’s domestic Games, to be co-hosted by Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong.
Training overseas with an American coach has been just the tonic, Lui said.
“I didn’t qualify for the Paris Olympics, but I thought I made a big step forward,” she said. “I was stagnant for two to three years before I started training in the US. I am glad I made the move, because I know what to improve.
“It’s about looking at the details at the elite level. If I can fine-tune my motions … there’s a lot to come.”
