Tears of joy for proud parents

Doo Hoi-kem's parents cried tears of joy as they watched their daughter seal a bronze in the women's table tennis team alongside dozens of supporters at Olympian City mall in Tai Kok Tsui.

The lively crowd - some of whom waved inflatable cheering sticks - chanted "add oil" and cheered whenever the Hong Kong team scored a point.

When the team secured the bronze, they leaped from their seats, roaring and applauding, with Doo's mother wiping her tears away.

Doo's parents, exhilarated, hugged each other following the victory and said they were immensely proud of her.

"I am so happy and proud of her ... You [Doo] are the best," Doo's father said at the scene.

"We have seen the ups and downs of table tennis as well as the pressure facing the sport in Hong Kong," he said, adding it was remarkable to see the city's progress in the sport.

"Like former windsurfer Lee Lai-shan said, Hong Kong athletes are not rubbish ... They have sacrificed a lot and are the best of the best," he said.

Doo's mother said she was so nervous while watching her daughter play, and that she would prepare Doo's favorite fried rice dish to celebrate her victory.

"We haven't seen her for nine months, and our reunion is already the biggest celebration," she added.

Meanwhile, the families of Lee Ho-ching and Minnie Soo Wai-yam also cheered for their daughters yesterday.

Lee's mother choked up when she mentioned her daughter's success, saying she had waited 20 long years for it.

Soo's father, Soo Chun-wah, a former table tennis player and now coach, said Soo picked up table tennis at a tender age and is well-versed in both outdoor and indoor activities. Soo's sister added Soo was a "literature person" and gave up a lot of hobbies, like writing novels, to become a full-time table tennis player.

Meanwhile, karateka Grace Lau Mo-sheung, another bronze winner, was well-supported by her alma mater, the City University of Hong Kong.

Kuo Way, the university's president, said he was delighted to see Lau represent the SAR at the Olympics. "She is Hong Kong's pride in terms of academic results and sports," he said.