Kampar, Malaysia, July 14, 2024: Japan’s Kenta Ando is looking for the next Hoi Long who is Macau’s only medallist in triathlon at the Asian Games.
Ando, who has become synonymous with triathlon in the Macau Special Administrative Region, is accompanied by youngster Wong Hou-lam at the OCA World Triathlon/Asian Triathlon Youth Development Camp in the former tin-mining town of Kampar.
Wong finished 55th out of a field of 70 in the boy’s event at the Asian Triathlon Junior Cup on Saturday, July 13, a result which was expected by coach Ando as the Macau teenager was racing against more than 50 elite athletes in Asia who are not part of this development camp.
“The best thing is that Wong finished the race. This was his first big test on the international stage, and I’m happy that he completed the race and was not lapped. But this result will show him how far he has to go,” Ando said.
A former athlete who was ranked in the top 10 in Japan, Ando arrived in Macau in 2004 to prepare the national triathlon team for the Doha 2006 Asian Games when triathlon made its debut as a medal sport.
Today, 20 years on, Ando is still in charge as head coach of Macau Triathlon, and hoping he can find success once again on the Asian stage. He is looking for athletes with a big heart like female triathlete Hoi Long, who despite losing her hearing at the age of five months never stopped chasing success.
Just imagine not being able to listen to the starting pistol and having to start a race by following other competitors. Hoi made light of the disadvantage of late starts, and in 2018 in Palembang, Indonesia, won Macau its first Asian Games medal, a bronze, in the sport.
“She was one determined girl. She finished fourth at the Asian Games in Guangzhou 2010, and then fifth in Incheon 2014 before claiming third place in 2018 at the Games in Jakarta and Palembang. She brought glory to Macau and I’m hoping I can find someone else like her soon,” says Ando.
“At the end of the day, the difference between winning and not winning a medal is how big your heart is, and how motivated you are. I’m looking for such an athlete,” Ando added.
