Hong Kong Stories (香港故事)
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我是姵延，香港出生和長大，小時候經常參加戶外活動，皮膚曬得較為黝黑，因此教練喚我「黑妹」。於二零一二年入讀香港教育大學健康教育科系學士課程，現在是香港羽毛球隊運動員，曾三次代表香港參加奥林匹克運動會。
我性格比較好動，從小便學習足球、籃球和跑步，當然羽毛球也是其中一項。
自小家境貧窮，曾經在木屋居住過大約兩年，後來搬到村屋居住。父母為了維持一家人的生活，每天都要外出工作，沒有時間照顧我們。我是返上午班，下午放學後便與弟弟一起到社區托管中心，那裡有導師協助我們温習和做家課，中心有一個禮堂，禮堂內有一個羽毛球場，亦有其它娛樂項目，如康樂棋和乒乓波，但我對羽毛球的興趣較大。
自小便知道家庭環境欠佳，所以學習羽毛球所需要的球拍和運動鞋，我都是選擇最廉價的「白飯魚」波鞋和普通球拍。我亦非常節儉，在外吃飯時，只需要加一元便可以選擇凍飲，我亦寧願選擇熱飲。現在很多小朋友，可以隨意購買運動裝備，有些還有私人羽毛球教練。有良好的裝備當然好，但以我的家庭環境是做不到，雖然我的環境條件欠佳，但並不重要，一切都是取決於自己的決心。
讀小學時我亦參加過校隊足球、籃球和田徑，但我最喜歡的還是羽毛球。小學四年班時，有一個機會學校帶我們到體育學院打羽毛球，看到專業的球場與學校的練習塲地很不相同，當時看到一位教練教導一名全職羽毛球男運動員練習開球和扣球，我看見他雙腳飛起的扣球動作威力很強勁，令我看到目瞪口呆，這一個動作使我產生了很大興趣，希望可以模仿和學習，很多人覺得我打羽毛球時像男運動員，就是這個小時候的經歷，造就了我現在的男性打球方式。
小四那年我本來有機會進入香港體育學院，作幾個月嘗試訓練，那時很開心，因為有專業教練和塲地。可惜在訓練期間，媽媽覺得我讀書成績差，不讓我繼續接受訓練，那時覺得有點可惜，無奈自己讀書成績差，但我並沒有放棄羽毛球，小四至小六仍然繼續打校隊。
之後入讀賽馬會體藝中學，中一時遇到一位很好的啟蒙老師，他是前香港隊羽毛球教練，他覺得我的技術不錯，認為我只在學校訓練並不足夠，希望我能夠進入體育學院接受訓練。他推薦我給當時的總教練陳智才先生，他還記起我在小學四年級時，曾經在體育學院訓練過幾個月，但後來退出。雖然他害怕花時間來訓練我，過一段時間我又再次離開，最終他仍答應讓我進入香港體育學院。
中一那年開始投身羽毛球青年軍訓練，那時並不是專注訓練羽毛球，亦會兼顧很多其他運動項目，當然羽毛球是我最喜歡和練習最多的項目，那時我較頑皮及很好動，常常不聽從教練教導，而且沒有長遠的想法，只是喜歡打羽毛球，也想不到我會代表香港參加比賽。
大約是中二那年，教練安排隊友前往中國接受訓練，有些只是小學四、五 年班學生，唯獨只有我一人留下，不能跟隨大隊。我感到很不開心，於是向教練查詢，他的理由是我打得太差。因為這一件事情激發起我的鬥志，從那時開始我不斷努力練習，在很短時間我已經可以超越了他們，同時我亦很想為羽毛球這項運動，付出更加多的努力和時間。因為一個挫折，而令到自己獲得今天的成績，感覺很奇妙，所以挫折並不是一件壞事，遇到挫折使到自己改進，願意奮鬥和努力。
中學時期我亦是田徑短跑和跳遠隊員，那時體能很差，跑一個圈已經胃痛和氣力不繼。我明白如果羽毛球要打得更加好，增強耐力是必需要的，所以我早上五、六時便起牀，在上課前跟隨田徑隊，每星期練習三次長跑，為了要令到自己的體能更上一層樓，每天有空閒時間我會跑二十六層樓梯回家和跳繩練氣力。
到了中四那年，教練主動與我聯絡，希望我考慮日後轉為一個全職運動員，他認為一個全職運動員，才可以完全投入訓練，要兼顧學業是很難達到高峰。聽了教練的說話後，我覺得很開心，因為之前的努力，已經令我獲得機會，可以真正為羽毛球運動做得更加好，甚至可以代表香港參加比賽，我亦很想跟著這條路走下去。教練建議我與家人商討後才回覆他，但我害怕與家人提出此事，因為他們希望我能夠升讀大學，將來可以找到一份理想工作。
過了大約一星期，教練問我與家人商討後的結果，得悉我的情況後，他便約了我的家人見面，沒想到教練與家人商談後，我便得到家人的支持，給我一個嘗試機會。雖然得到家人支持，但老師、同學和朋友並不支持我放棄學業，他們的想法十分正常，但那一刻無論別人怎樣反應，都沒有影響我的決定。我明白並不是每一個人都可以擁有這種機會，因此要好好地把握，運動員的最佳日子是很短暫，讀書將來可以再繼續，完成中四那年我便正式成為全職運動員。
剛開始訓練的時候，自己年紀尚小，技術水平亦不高，當時有很多師姐，還有世界排名很高的王晨，很開心身旁的隊友是很好成績的運動員，他們也是我的一個奮鬥目標。每一次訓練時我都會想著這一句金句，「要超越任可對手，要比別人付出更加多的努力」，因為我很想超越對手，除了日常正規訓練，我付出更多時間，自己加倍練習，那時真的很辛苦，沒有想過可以捱得住。我很清楚自己打羽毛球的方式，是需要速度、體能，因為是男性運動員方式，較其他人消耗體能更多，在體能方面我付出了不少努力，不放棄和堅持是很重要的動力。
任何人也會經常遇到一些困難和辛苦時刻，那時候會很容易想到放棄，但我覺得如果是自己喜歡做的事，不要輕易放棄，不想將來會後悔，只要向正面去想，永遠都會有解決辦法。
我在每一個階段都會設定一個目標，最初的目標是希望很快便可超越高水平的對手，每當達到目標時便會再定一個新的目標，不會因為沒有目標而迷失方向。正好像之前我曾經想過，無論能否獲得今屆巴西奧運的參賽資格，我都打算退役，有很多人知道消息後，問我為何突然有這一個念頭，其實我的經歷已經太多，過往比賽亦獲得一些成績，如二零零九年在香港舉辦的東亞運動會贏得金牌，二零一二年倫敦奧運進入八強，世界女單排名，最高時曾排行第八位等。
能夠第三次代表香港參加奧運，已經不是一件容易的事，賽後隊友鼓勵我，「沒有女單羽毛球運動員可以連續參加三屆奧運，但妳可以做到」，這一句話的確很感人，因此我領悟到，我還可以繼續參與比賽，不要把得失看得太重，不要為今次未能晉級而傷心難過，令自己有放棄的念頭。
我感覺到自己已達不到從前的水準，而且好像有點下滑，我對勝負得失看得很重，雖然要求高並不是一件壞事，但往往因為輸了比賽感到失望，覺得受到了很大的挫折，因而產生放棄的念頭。很幸運，後來得到教練和隊友的鼓勵，加上自己的正面想法，我已找到了一個新目標，令自己可以重新振作起來。
我能夠繼續這項運動，已經值得慶幸，有些人想做也不能，因為他們可能為了生活而放棄，或是身體殘障問題想打羽毛球也不能，但我現在擁有的已經比其他人好，最少我現時沒有傷患和仍然有體能，還可以繼續打羽毛球，我不應因為勝負得失看得太重而放棄。我今年二十九歲，全職打羽毛球已經十三年，年紀漸大，再過數年三十多歲的時候便會正式退役。
現在我要享受比賽過程中的樂趣，將來還有沒有突破或更好的成績，我不會知道，也不再想猜測和考慮太多，會盡量享受比賽過程。我已將目標放在二零二零年東京奧運，但我亦不知道那時能否達到水準參加，這是我另一個夢想，如果能夠第四次參加奧運，就是向著另一個不可能的目標進發，能夠參加三次奧運已經是一個不可能，我只想朝著另一個不可能進發。人生永遠都會有高低潮，也是人生必經階段，在低潮中尋找重新振作的方法，堅持繼績努力，無論得失與否，我會享受打羽毛球的人生。
I am Pui Yin. I was born and raised in Hong Kong. When I was young, I often took part in extra-curricular activities. My skin color got quite tanned from the outdoor activities so my coach called me ‘Dark girl’. In 2012, I entered the Hong Kong Sports Institute and studied a degree in Health Education. I am a Hong Kong Badminton Team player and a three-time Hong Kong Badminton Olympian.
My personality is rather outgoing. I used to learn soccer when I was young. I also learned basketball and did a lot of running. Of course, I also played badminton. I hail from a poor grassroots family. I once lived in a wooden house for around two years. I later lived in a village house. To support the family, my parents had to go out to work every day. They did not have time to take care of me. I studied in the morning class. When I got off school, I would go to the community care center. There were teachers there to take care of my studying and homework. There was a hall at the center and in the hall there was a badminton court. There were also other leisure activities. For instance, there were chess and table tennis but I was more interested in badminton.
When I was young, I long knew that my family environment was underwhelming. That was why I chose the cheapest shoes and badminton rackets. I chose plain shoes and a regular racket. I am also very thrifty. Whenever I ate out, I would choose hot drinks because I had to pay an extra dollar for cold drinks. As of now, there are lots of children who can easily buy sporting gear. Some may even have private badminton coaches. Possessing good sporting gear is of course good but it was not possible coming from my family background. Although my family environment was below par, it was not important. Many things depend on your will.
When I was in primary school, I also played in the school soccer team, basketball team as well as, the track and field team. But I still loved badminton the most. When I was in Primary four, there was an occasion when the school brought us to the Sports Institute to play badminton. At a professional court, I found that it was very different from the training grounds in school. At that time, I saw a coach teaching a fulltime professional male badminton player. When he served and smashed, he jumped way up high. It was an extremely powerful imagery. I was shocked beyond belief. The action evoked in me a great deal of interest. I wanted to imitate and learn his move. A lot of people feel that when I play badminton, I play like a male athlete. I can say that my playing style today derived from what I witnessed that day when I was young.
During the year of Primary four, I initially had the chance to enter the Hong Kong Sports Institute. I undertook a few months of trial training. I was very happy at that time because there were professional coaches and a professional training environment. However, during my training, my mother felt that my academic grades were not good enough. She did not allow me to continue with the training. I felt it was a bit of a pity but it was true that my grades were suffering. But I did not give up on badminton. From Primary four to Primary six, I still continued playing in the school team.
I then attended Jockey Club Ti-I College. I came across a good and inspiring teacher when I was in Form one. He was a former Hong Kong Badminton Team coach. He felt my skills were not bad and that my school training was insufficient. He hoped that I can receive training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. He recommended me to the Chief Coach, Chan Chi Choi. He remembered my time when I was in Primary four and my several months of training at the institute. He also remembered that I have eventually quit. Although he was worried about spending time on training me (as I might leave after a period of time), he eventually accepted me into the Sports Institute.
Starting from Form 1, I focused on playing as a youth player. At that time, I was not only focused on badminton training but would also juggle many other different sports. Of course, again, I loved badminton the most. I was rather naughty and outgoing at that time. I often did not listen to my coach’s teaching. I was also short sighted. I only loved playing badminton and could never have imagined that I could represent Hong Kong one day.
While I was in Form two, my coach arranged for me and my teammates to train in China. There were some students who were only in Primary four and five. I was the only who was not allowed to go and follow the crowd. I felt very upset so I checked with my coach. His reason was that I was playing poorly. That incident triggered me to work extremely hard. From then onwards, I trained rigorously. In a short span of time, I was able to exceed them. At the same time, I really wanted to sacrifice even more time and effort in badminton. A setback enabled me to become the person that I am today. It is a very special feeling. That is why setbacks may not necessarily be a bad thing. When you come across hard times, you can improve yourself. You will be willing to fight hard and work hard.
During secondary school, I was a short distance runner and long jumper. My fitness level was very poor at that time. After running one lap, I would have stomach aches and feel out of breath or exhausted. I understood that if I wanted to improve my badminton skills, it was important to strengthen my fitness level. That was why I would get out of bed at around five or six in the morning and join the athletics team before classes started. I would do long distance running training three times per week. To further improve my strength, I would run twenty-six floors to reach to get home and also do skipping exercises.
When I reached Form four, my coach contacted me directly. He wished that I would consider becoming a fulltime athlete later. He felt that a fulltime athlete can totally devote his or her time into training. If you need to manage your studies, you may find it difficult to reach your potential. After hearing my coach’s words, I felt very delighted because my hardwork from the past paid off: I got a chance to finally dedicate myself to badminton. I may even be able to represent Hong Kong at games. I also wanted to commit myself to walking this path. My coach suggested that I spoke to my family before getting back to him. But I was terrified of making such a suggestion to my family because they really wanted me to go to university and find an ideal job in the future.
After around a week, my coach asked me what the result was after my discussion with my family. After understanding my situation, he arranged to meet with my family. I never thought that after a discussion between my coach and my family, my family would support me and give me a chance to try things out. Although they supported me, my teachers, classmates and friends did not feel the same way because I had to quit my studies. Their thinking was very normal but at that time, no matter how people reacted, nothing was able to change my mind. I understood that not everyone had such a chance. That was why I had to grasp it. The life of a sportsman is very short. I can continue with my studies in future. After completing Form four, I became a fulltime athlete.
When I first started training, I was considerably young. My skills were also not high. At that time there were a lot of mentees and also Wang Chen who ranked highly in the world. I was very happy that there were a lot of high-achievers among my teammates. They were also competition to me. Whenever I trained, I would think of this motto: ‘In order to exceed your opponent, you must work much harder than him or her’. As I really wanted to beat my opponents, aside from normal daily training, sacrificed a lot of time on self-training. Those days were tough. I never thought I could survive those times. I was clear when it came to my personal badminton skills. I required speed and strength. As I also played like a male, I burned more energy than others. In terms of strength, I dedicated a lot of hardwork into it. To never quit and to have persistence motivated me the most. Anyone can come across difficulties and hard times and would feel like quitting but I feel that if it is something that you enjoy doing, you will not easily give up. You do not want to regret it in future. As long as you think positively, you will always find ways to solve your problems.
At every stage, I would plan a goal. The first goal was to beat high-tiered competitors in little time. Whenever I achieved my goal, I would come up with a new one. I would not lose direction because I had no goal. It was like my thoughts in the past. I thought that I would retire, whether I can make it to the Rio Olympics or not. When many people learned of the news, they asked me why I had such a thought. Actually, it was because I had too many experiences and had some achievement in previous games. For example, I won a gold medal in the Asian Games held in Hong Kong in 2009. In the 2012 London Olympics, I made it into the quarterfinals. I was once ranked the top eighth in the world, too.
To be able to represent Hong Kong for the third time at the Olympic Games is not easy. After my game, my teammates told me encouragingly that ‘no woman in the individual criteria has been able to make it into the Olympic Games three times in a row except for you.’ My teammate’s words touched me deeply. It got me thinking that I can continue competing and that I should not take winning and losing so heavily. I should not be sad because I could not further my game at this year’s Olympic Games. I should not think of quitting.
I feel that I could no longer play at the level I used to. I also think that I am losing my edge a little. I take winning and losing seriously. Although having high standards is not necessarily a bad thing, I still feel upset whenever I lose. I feel like I’ve tumbled and consequently, had thoughts of quitting. Fortunately, I later received encouragement from my teammates and coach. In addition to my positive thinking, I have found a new goal. I was able to stand up again.
My ability to continue with this sport is already a blessing in disguise. Some people who want to do the same are unable to because they need to make a living. Or they may have a disability which defers them from playing badminton. But I already have things that are better than others. At least I do not have any injuries and is still fit. I can still play badminton. I should not quit because I take winning and losing seriously. I am twenty-nine years old this year. I have played badminton professionally for thirteen years. I am getting older. After a number of years, when I am in my thirties, I will officially retire.
As of now, I should enjoy the joys of competing. I do not know whether I would excel or gain better results in the future. I also do not want to think or guess too much. I will try my best to enjoy the process of competing. My goal is to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games but I do not know whether I will meet the requirements by then. If I can make it to the Olympic Games for the fourth time, it will be like marching towards an impossible goal. To be able to participate in the Olympic Games for three times is already remarkable enough. I just want to reach another impossible milestone. There are always highs and lows in life. We must all go through them. You must be able to stand up while you are down and keep your head up. It does not matter whether I win or lose. What matters most is that I will continue to enjoy my badminton life.