World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship: Hong Kong player aims to maintain Olympic link
- The Games is in her blood and Kallie Wong is targeting a place at the 2028 edition in Los Angeles
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Hong Kong’s Kallie Wong has had wind in her sails in recent days, but unlike her windsurfer parents, it has not been on the open sea.
Running up and down relentlessly for the home team in the World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship is the younger daughter of Lee Lai-shan, the city’s first Olympic gold medallist, and Sam Wong Tak-sum, the current commissioner for sports and a three-time Olympian before that.
Donning the No 11 jersey, teenage attacker Wong said she only started picking up lacrosse when she began studying in the UK in 2021.
“It was a compulsory sport for us in PE, but I really loved it,” the Downe House School pupil said. “It was an exciting, speedy game, and to combine with my teammates to score a goal brought a great sense of success.
“I tried cricket too, but I just preferred lacrosse. It meant a lot to represent Hong Kong at an international event and I am proud that I made the cut.”
The 17-year-old did try windsurfing, in which her mother had triumphed at the 1996 Olympics, before realising it wasn’t the sport for her. She prefers dry land: having also had a go at running, in the 200 metres and the 4x100m relay, she idolises Usain Bolt.
“I just didn’t like [windsurfing], I felt a little bit lonely out there on the sea by myself,” Wong said. “I felt lacrosse was more fun and [my mum] supported me to play.
“She never forced me to do anything, but just supported me to do the things I like. She advised me on how to be a better athlete, but I never felt any pressure from her.”
Wong has up to three 90-minute sessions per week dedicated to lacrosse training at her school, along with running and strength training, and each Saturday brings a match against another school.
“We play in a national schools championship in England and we have ranked in the top eight,” she said.
“I have enjoyed playing team sports more, because we bear the responsibility together if the team doesn’t do well, and we celebrate with each other when we win.”
Wong is determined to stick to lacrosse and it could provide a route back to the Olympics for her family.
She has in her sights the 2028 Los Angeles Games, for which lacrosse sixes – a shortened, faster form of the sport – is being introduced, even if she has yet to play sixes. The present championship in Hong Kong features traditional 10-a-side lacrosse.
“I want to play in the Olympics too if I have the chance,” she said. “I’ll continue my training and go to the try-outs.
“I am an attacker in 10-a-side, so I need to learn to defend as well as attack to fit into a sixes squad.”
Gemini Fan Tak-kwan, head coach of the city’s women’s team, praised Wong’s determination and work-rate.
“She works very hard to drive and help the team,” Fan said. “If we lose possession, she tries to retrieve it for us.
“Wong understands the coaches’ instructions and she’s clear on what she has to do. If she misses a shot, she is not dejected – she goes on to do the next thing she has to do.”
