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Singapore came away with a silver and a bronze from the Hong Kong Inter-City Athletics Championships over the weekend.

National long jumper Kenneth Wang Kan leapt 7.24m at the Wanchai Sports Ground to finish second in the men’s long jump, behind China’s Yang Kai who took the gold with 7.34m.

The 21-year-old national serviceman started off with a poor 6.86m before clearing 7.24m on his second leap. He then faulted o his third jump before recording a 7.11m on his fourth. He then faulted on his last two jumps.

Still, it looked like Kenneth,who has a personal best of 7.41m, would come away with the gold - until Yang Kai cleared 7.34m on his last jump.

Meanwhile, national junior record holder Chia Chang Yi finished third in the men’s shot put final. The former Teck Whye Secondary thrower took the bronze with his 13.80m effort, which was 0.47m off his naional junior mark of 14.27m which he set in 2004.

Taiwan’s Chen Chia Hung took the gold with 15.44m while Hong Kong’s Chiu Lap San was second with 14.14m.

Meanwhile, national sprinter Calvin Kang wrapped up his preparations for this coming weekend’s IAAF World Junior Championships ( 12 - 13 July ) by winning the men’s 100m final in a slowish 10.73sec at a minor meet in Stuttgart, Germany, on 28 June.

The Stuttgart meet was Calvin’s second in three weeks as part of his month-long training stint in Germany in preparations for the world meet. The 17-year-old student, who holds the national junior record of 10.53sec, took part in the in the Boys’ U-20 100m at the Bahaus Junioren Gala 2008 on 21 June and finished fourth in 10.60sec.

Calvin will also be competing in next month’s Beijing Olympics as a wildcard entry in the 100m.

Things are also looking up for triple jumper Stefan Tseng, the only other Singapore competitor at the World Juniors. The 17-year-old national record holder (15.78m) had been trying to shrug off a niggling pain in his ankle for the past three weeks.

He won a silver in the Boys U-20 triple jump at the Bahaus Junioren meet but it was achieved via a poor 15.20m, no thanks to the ankle injury which was sustained at the Asian Junior Championships.

Since then, Stefan has been undergoing medical treatment and light training. However, he was able to resume full training yesterday and showed no ill effects from his exertions.

The duo left for Bydgosczc, Poland yesterday, the venue for the World Juniors.

The Singapore Sports Fan wishes both athletes all the best and hope they will fly the Republic’s flag with pride and passion at the World Juniors.

Yours in Sport
Singapore Sports Fan

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