Hong Kong head coach hails triathlon chance, ‘we need depth and accountability’

Head coach Andrew Wright said staging the Asia Triathlon Cup against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline would help attract a new generation of athletes and keep the city’s current stars on their toes.

The race, which takes place in 11 days’ time, begins with a swimming leg in Victoria Harbour, before the athletes cycle and run along the iconic harbourfront, finishing in the shadow of the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.

All four members of the Hong Kong team that claimed mixed-relay bronze at the Asian Games will compete, with qualification points for next year’s Olympics up for grabs.

In addition to those vying for honours in the elite field, triathletes will compete in older age-group categories, and junior athletes will contest the Asia Triathlon Youth Championship.

“We have to increase our talent pool, and that happens through development, which is why this race is amazing for us,” said Wright, who took over as Hong Kong Triathlon head coach in 2020.

Previous races have been held in the relative backwater of Plover Cove, and Wright said in the past that had put people off from taking part.

Pointing to the annual cross-harbour swim, Wright said he had asked “why we were stuck out of the way”.

“Staging it in Central puts a spotlight on the sport, it piques interest, and it brings a lot of accountability for our triathletes,” he said. “No one wanted to come to previous events, even the age groupers [older racers], and they are important.

“About 90 per cent of our squad got into triathlon because of their parents. If you have a race like this, it encourages age groupers, then they want their kids involved.

“Our problem has always been lack of depth, and this is an opportunity for talent ID and development.”

In an ideal world, Wright said he would have ended the season after the races in Hangzhou, but training had been designed to cater for a protracted campaign, which continues with the Asian Triathlon Sprint Championships in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

According to Wright, it was essential that the likes of Jason Ng Tai-long, Wong Tsz-wo, Bailee Brown and Charlotte Hall stayed sharp as they tried to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

“We knew these [Saudi and Hong Kong events] were important races for Olympic qualification, so we planned our season around remaining in competitive shape at this point,” Wright said.

“The qualification period spans two years [until May 2024], so the challenge is to be the most consistent athlete over that period.”

The head coach said he faced a delicate balancing act when devising training programmes for the city’s elite athletes, given the lack of depth in the squad.

“In another country, you might have 10 top athletes, and if one breaks down, there is another,” he said.

“We do not have that. The talent across Asia is improving, and in the rest of the world, it is insane. If you do not have depth and talent ID programmes … there is no way you can compete.”