Hong Kong duo take top prizes at inaugural Inas Awards

Hong Kong’s Wai Lok Tang (third from right) and Ka Man Wong (centre) claimed the respective Best Male and Female Athlete accolades at the inaugural Inas Awards ©Inas

Hong Kong’s Wai Lok Tang and Ka Man Wong have claimed the respective Best Male and Female Athlete accolades at the inaugural International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (Inas) Awards in Sheffield, England.

Paralympic swimmer Tang beat Portuguese athlete Lenine Cuhna to the men’s award, while table tennis star Wong overcame competition from British swimmer Bethany Firth to take the women’s crown.

Tang set an Asian record time of 1 minute and 59.13 seconds on his way to winning the 200 metres freestyle S14 event at the continent’s Para Games in Incheon last year.

The 17-year-old, who has won a number of gold medals in Inas competitions, also claimed silver in the 100m backstroke S14 event.

Wong followed up her singles class 11 triumph at the London 2012 Paralympics by securing the corresponding gold medal at the 2014 Asian Para Games.

Her excellence in table tennis and contribution to local sports development were recognised by the Hong Kong Government in 2013, when she was awarded the prestigious Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service.

Table tennis star Ka Man Wong won the women's singles class 11 event at the 2014 Asian Para Games ©Inas

Meanwhile in the Unsung Hero category, retired GB Athletics team manager Paul Burns was named the winner.

During his 12 years in the role, from 2002 to 2014, Burns guided a number of British athletes to international success in Inas competitions.

The final award category was the Hall of Fame, which recognises a lifetime achievement.

In a surprise announcement, three former Inas Presidents were inducted in honour of their outstanding efforts to promote sport globally for athletes with an intellectual disability over a combined 25-year period.

The Netherlands’ Jos Mulder was joined by Great Britain's Bernard Atha and Bob Price in accepting the award.

Current Inas President, Jose Amaury Russo of Brazil, became the first to be elected from outside of Europe in May 2013, when he replaced Price, who stepped down after six years at the organisation's helm.

“Sport for athletes with an intellectual disability does not enjoy the same media profile as other areas of Parasport so I am delighted that Inas has introduced these awards to honour and recognise the outstanding achievements of athletes and those who work behind the scenes,” Russo said.