Hong Kong hurdler Vera Lui Lai-yiu is making a desperate bid to qualify for the Tokyo Games by pinning her hopes on Europe, with time running short as the deadline looms. Running in 36 degrees Celsius heat – Hong Kong’s hottest day in May on record – the 26-year-old cruised to victory in the women’s 100-metre hurdles in 13.73 seconds in the Athletics Series 3 at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Sunday. With the Covid-19 pandemic prematurely ending Lui’s season, she must now hope for an invitation from one of the European events to fulfil Olympic qualifying requirements. “This is not our target, our target is in Europe if Lui wants to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics ,” said her coach Tang Hon-sing. “We have plans for a number of overseas events and if she can be accepted to compete, she still has a chance. Hurdler Vera Lui records seasonal best as she chases Games dream “All we need is probably two strong results close to 13.30 seconds, which she came close to before in international meets.” He said they had inquired about events in Spain and Finland in June with the qualification period closing at the end of the month. “Because of the pandemic, many event organisers have to follow a set of safety measures, making it difficult for them to accept overseas runners. Already we have been turned down by an event in Slovakia. The best thing to do is to keep trying and wait for a confirmation,” Tang said. Lui, who has a personal best of 13.32 seconds when she came fourth at the 2019 Asian Championships in Doha, is 60th in the rankings list. The women’s Olympic hurdles has a quota of 40 runners with a maximum of three from one national association. Athletes can also qualify by running at least 12.84 seconds, with 26 women having already made the grade. The 2018 Asian Games bronze medallist said she was ready to travel overseas. “I never give up hope of overseas competition because this is the only way to make my Olympic debut,” Lui said. “I have changed to a new passport and taken the Covid-19 vaccination so that I can travel immediately. But it depends if they accept me and I can do little about that.” Fuming Vera Lui takes five-hour wait fury out on hurdle rivals Tang said if his athlete was unable to make it to Tokyo, they still had the National Games in September to look forward to, as well as the Asian Championships and Asian Games next year. “The entire process for the qualifying campaign will be a good learning process for her career. It can make her a stronger and better athlete in the future,” said the coach. In the men’s 110 metres hurdles, Hong Kong record holder Chan Chung-wang crossed the line first but was unhappy with his time of 14.08 seconds. “I only resumed training in March after recovering from a leg injury and today the head wind also made it difficult for me,” said Chan, who holds the Hong Kong record at 13.74 seconds. “I will now take a break from competition for a regular training camp before looking at other targets such as the China National Games.” To Yuen-kwan bettered her own Hong Kong record in the women’s shot put with a throw of 13.59 metres. Her previous best was 13.25 metres set in 2019.

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