Para champion Ho Yuen-kei to set up youth scholarship

Paris Paralympics double gold medallist, bowler Ho Yuen-kei, said on Saturday she's setting up a scholarship with her prize money to help local young people. The boccia star won gold in BC3 individual, and teamed up with Tse Tak-wah to get the top prize in the same category's mixed pairs for Team Hong Kong, China. Speaking as they returned to the SAR, Ho said the scholarship won't just be for potential athletes or disabled people, but for all youngsters. She reflected on how after missing out on a medal in her maiden Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, in 2016, her husband, who was still her boyfriend then, had wanted to see her reach the podium one day and receive her flowers. "Now that we've achieved his wishes, I'm a bit more greedy. I don't just hope for one Ho Yuen-kei. I hope there can be many more Ho Yuen-keis. So I decided to use my prize money to set up a scholarship to help young people," Ho told reporters at the airport. "I believe even though Hong Kong is a small place, we have a lot of elite talent here. And young people are our future. So I hope I can contribute to society with my small achievement." Veteran bowler Leung Yuk-wing, for his part, said he hopes the government can provide extra resources to help secure more care-takers and coaches for boccia players. "Every time we leave Hong Kong to compete, we need need one-to-one care. Because we only have like three to four full-time coaches, but we have 10 athletes competing. The volunteer [care-takers] have their own jobs, they need to take leave to help us," Leung said. The six-time Paralympian said hiring more coaches would allow players to compete without worries. Leung, 39, took home a silver medal from Paris in the BC4 mixed pairs by teaming up with Paralympic debutant Annie Cheung. But while it's his seventh Paralympic medal, he said he's probably not done playing. Both him and Cheung said they want to go for gold in Los Angeles in 2028. The SAR bowlers ended the Paris Games with three golds and two silvers, topping the boccia medal table for the first time ever.

Para champion Ho Yuen-kei to set up youth scholarship

Para champion Ho Yuen-kei to set up youth scholarship

Para champion Ho Yuen-kei to set up youth scholarship

Para champion Ho Yuen-kei to set up youth scholarship

Para champion Ho Yuen-kei to set up youth scholarship