Superstar track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze has been on top of the world lately and was on another high on Tuesday night as she was voted best athlete for a fifth time at the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards.
On a night that turned poignant with Hong Kong swimmer Kenneth To King-him posthumously honoured with a special award two weeks after he died during training in the US, the 31-year-old cycling star captured the spotlight again in the city’s sporting “Oscars” at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Hong Kong’s greatest rider won the prestigious award three years in a row from 2012 to 2014 and was last honoured in 2016. She collected her latest award mainly for her two gold medals in the sprint and keirin at the Asian Games in Jakarta last summer and also success in the World Cup series.
Sarah Lee Wai-sze is a shoo-in for best Hong Kong athlete of 2018 award – sorry Ng On-yee
The sports stars awards are for achievements during 2018 but Lee is already well on the way to securing the top award for this year, having won two gold medals at the world track championships in Poland earlier this month.
For Lee, it has been a tremendous return to the top after she had considered retirement after returning empty-handed from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Sarah Lee makes history for Hong Kong at world championships – now it’s time for 2020 Tokyo Olympics
“I returned to cycling last year after taking a break and regaining the title [best athlete of the year] means a lot to me,” said Lee. “All the hard work and effort has paid off. Although I have received many awards, I still treasure every moment as I stand on the stage and hopefully I can keep winning as long as I am still competitive.”
She receives a cash award of HK$96,000 (US$12,200) – HK$60,000 for being named “best of the best” and HK$36,000 for being one of the eight finalists. Another trophy adds to a growing collection on her mantelpiece.
The other finalists were snooker player Ng On-yee, squash star Leo Au Chun-ming, gymnast Shek Wai-hung, wushu exponent Mok Uen-ying, fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai, wheelchair fencer Alison Yu Chui-yee and Ng Mui-wui of table tennis.
Sarah Lee is world champion at last: Hong Kong rider defeats Stephanie Morton in sprint final
In team sport, rugby took top honours for 2018 after their Asian Games gold medal success where they beat Japan in the Jakarta final, while badminton duo of Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet and track cyclists Cheung King-lok and Leung Chun-wing were also named winners of the best teams for the year.
