Sharp shooter: Auxiliary Woman Police Constable Lo Ka-kei is set to take part in air pistol shooting in the Olympic Games at Athens in August.

Auxiliary Woman Police Constable Lo Ka-kei is set to take part in air pistol shooting in the Olympic Games at Athens in August, becoming the first local woman athlete for the event.

The Olympic Committee of Hong Kong has endorsed Ms Lo's participation in the Athens Olympic Games.

Ms Lo has also been enlisted to Elite C of Hong Kong Sport Scholarship Athletes and awarded a grant of $30,000 for 2004/05 by the Hong Kong Sports Development Board.

Auxiliary Chief Inspector Edgar Yang, Captain of the Hong Kong Olympic Shooting Team, said Ms Lo has good muscle memory and a competitive mindset. 

She picked up the sport four years ago when she signed up for the Hong Kong Shooting Association's Olympic Air Pistol Shooting Introductory Course.

Experience in international events

By January 2003, she had already achieved the minimum qualifying score for the 10-M Ladies' Air Pistol event, and had already taken part in a number of international competitions, including the World Cup at Busan in 2003, the Asian Shooting Championships 2004, and the South East Asia Shooting Championships 2000-2003.

"She practises regularly, and her determination has been consistent," Mr Yang noted.

Ms Lo joined the Auxiliary Police because she believed that police work and the related training require a high level of discipline, which would help her achieve her goal of becoming a professional athlete.

She participated in the Pre-Olympic World Cup Shooting Championships in Athens in April, and achieved satisfactory results in the 10-M Ladies Air Pistol event.

This has enabled her to realise her lifelong dream of visiting the birthplace of the Olympics, and familiarise herself with the venue and weather for the upcoming games there.

Newcomers welcome

"Our shooting team needs more new blood, and we welcome those who are willing to take up serious training, especially regular and auxiliary police forces members who are experienced in the use of firearms and, more importantly, are subject to discipline and have determination and commitment," Mr Yang said.

"Currently, the events in which the Police have achieved satisfactory scores are Men's 25-M rapid firing, standard pistol and centre firing, as well as Ladies' 25-M sports pistol and 10-M air pistol, as demonstrated in the Asian Games, Asian Shooting Championships, and South East Asia Shooting Championships.