Road to Olympics - Update on JAM Happy Lo Sin Yan

A year ago, Happy Lo Sin Yan world ranking was around 250 and the road to the Olympics seemed like a fairy tale to her.  After a year of hard work, dedication and determination, not only did Happy achieve the improbable of breaking into the world top 50 in ladies singles, she also made it at a young age of 21, her dream to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024!!  Her story is not just about success but her perseverance and struggle are the example for young athletes to follow. 

Happy Lo was born and bred in Hong Kong China and at 9 years of age, she started following John Leung, current badminton team coach in HKFC as her technical advisor.  With the comprehensive training facility in HKFC and individualized technical sessions, Happy’s skills and game tactics has gradually matured to prepare her for the challenges that may come next. 

When Happy turned 18 years old, which was also during Covid pandemic and that almost crippled her badminton career.  The opportunities to participate in any competition was virtually non-existent.  This had become an opportunity for Happy to focus on her studies, preparing to arrange an exit if her badminton career could not materialize.  Fortunately, the pandemic eventually went away and she finally completed her matriculation examination.  Soon after, she has immersed herself wholeheartedly as a full time professional badminton player with the national team.  She trains 6 days a week at Sports Institute and comes to HKFC for her technical sessions on weekends as well as sparring with the young players. 

Her road to Paris cannot be taken light-heartedly because she does not only compete against herself but she must also beat other competitors to their Olympic points for the final qualification.  Therefore, Happy has to grasped every opportunity and tolerate all unfavourable conditions in order to secure the points.  Happy has to endure numerous food-poisoning incidents during her tour in Indonesia, sustained multiple sprained ankles during practice and tournaments due to slippery floors, tolerated long haul flights and at times each flight might be over 30 hours to locations such as Iran, Kazakhstan, etc..  There were also threat of bombing and physical demand of high altitude in Iran. 

A new chapter has now begun for Happy and her achievement only affirms the support from Hong Kong Football Club on the junior badminton development program.