Almost a dream come true

PoonMan was 12 when she began to dream of sports stardom. She had no idea that within a few years her dream would come true.

“Play for the women’s Hong Kong ice hockey team? Me? Nobody believed it. Least of all me. I went to Chang Pui Chung Memorial School where we played basketball, volleyball and badminton but then one day I joined the Federation sports programme and had my first taste of ice skating. It was like love at first sight!”

PoonMan’s was already a regular member of HKFYG’s Youth SPOT in Tseung Kwan O, the nearest to where she lived. The beginners’ ice hockey programme cost her HK$1,500 for 16 training sessions. “At first it sounded a lot, but I saved up and every dollar was worth it.” Her coach, Hiroki Wakabayashi, immediately recognized her talent. “I wanted to be a goalie but he insisted that I should be a forward and that gave me more confidence.”

What made her choose ice hockey, in a city that rarely sees frost, let alone ice? PoonMan smiled. “The game is all out teamwork and speed. I love them both and I treasured every minute.” Still, it was a big surprise when she was selected to play for the HKFYG Phoenixes, the girls’ Community Team Sports (CTS) ice hockey team and it encourage her to go further. “Somebody suggested a nomination for the national team trials. I had to put myself forward and apply. That made me so nervous, but when the results came out, astonishingly, I was in!”

That was in PoonMan’s third year of ice hockey. At 15, she was the youngest in the squad. “It was ice hockey at a totally different level and I realized I had a lot to do.” The coach, Anqi Tan, was strict and the training was tough but I also learnt a lot from other team members who were all much older than me.” Every weekday, PoonMan had to carry all her heavy sports equipment to school before going on to training sessions. “Sometimes, I was not allowed on the MTR with all that kit.”

One day soon after her 17th birthday, PoonMan was selected to play for Hong Kong in Mexico. It would be her first ever overseas trip. “I was so excited…,” she remembers. But very sadly, it was not to be.

She had no passport. “I was devastated but had no choice but to give up not only that amazing chance but all my training.”

There are no subsidies for ice hockey players like PoonMan. “Many other players come from richer families who can afford it.” But for PoonMan it was impossible. “Each season would cost me over HK$10,000 in training and ice court rental. “I had to stop.”