Force medals galore at World Police and Fire Games
The Force sent the biggest delegation ever of 163 athletes to this biennial sports meet. Leading the delegation were Director of Crime and Security Lee Ka-chiu and New Territories North Regional Commander Cheung Siu-wah. Deputy Commissioner (Management) Fung Siu-yuen even took vacation leave and headed for Adelaide to cheer on Force athletes.
Behind every medal there always lies a story that not many people know. Clinching the bronze medal by the Police Dragon Boat Club in the men's event was perhaps one of the most touching ones. In this event, the club only managed to field a team of 16 male officers to take on teams of 20 paddlers. Yet with great determination and encouragement by their friends and guests, the Force paddlers were only narrowly defeated by two robust Australian teams.
One of the Force paddlers, Woman Chief Inspector Yau Sin-man pointed out that as the Force team had to compete continuously, which drained much of the paddlers's physical strength, winning the bronze is by no means a small achievement. "After passing the finish line and returning to the starting point, both the team members and their friends and guests were overcome with joy," she noted.
Among the various events attended by Force athletes, the Police Shooting Team secured the best result, winning 28 medals. The Vice-chairman of the Police Shooting Club, Superintendent Siu Kit-hung, said Force shooters won the medals in four major events, and came up with a better performance in the biathlon and shooting in actual battles. The club sent 14 representatives to the Games, with veterans leading new members, so as to allow the latters to draw experience at the competition.
Although the two competition venues were 30 to 40 miles away from the city centre, Mr Siu said all shooters stuck together during the competition. With the support from all ranks in the Force, they fostered good rapport and lived up to the spirit of a healthy lifestyle.
On the other hand, the Athletic Team also pulled off no less impressive result - 24 medals. Woman Sergeant Wong Yin-yee from Ta Kwu Ling Division alone brought home seven gold and one silver. Woman Police Constable Wong Siu-ping from Tsuen Wan District, following her recent success in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, won again in the Half-Marathon which made her a "Queen of Endurance".
Making their debut at the Games, the Volleyball Team won a bronze medal in the women's event. Force swimmers teamed up with officers from the Chengdu Public Security Bureau and won a medal in a relay event, putting cross-discipline sport exchange into practice.
| List of Medals | |||
| Sport | Medal | ||
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| Adventure | - | - | 1 |
| Archery | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Athletic | 9 | 10 | 5 |
| Badminton | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Bowling | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Boxing | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cycling | - | 2 | 3 |
| Dragon Boat | - | - | 1 |
| Judo | - | 1 | - |
| Karate-do | 2 | - | - |
| Lawn Bowl | - | - | 1 |
| Orienteering | - | - | 1 |
| Shooting | 5 | 13 | 10 |
| Squash | - | - | 1 |
| Swimming | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Table Tennis | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Tennis | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Volleyball | - | - | 1 |
| Total | 30 | 41 | 38 |
Deputy Commissioner (Management) Fung Siu-yuen specially takes vacation leave to cheer on Force athletes
The Force has notched up a gold, two bronze and three silver medals in table tennis
The Dragon Boat has fared well against many odds
Force swimmers have clinched two gold, two bronze and four silver medals
Force athletes have gained a lot of friendship at the Games