Coronavirus scare for Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso after woman on same flight tests positive
- The 32-year-old boxer has gone into self-imposed quarantine with the rest of the Hong Kong boxing team
- The ‘Wonder Kid’ receives another blow with the Paris Qualification Event likely to be suspended in line with all Olympic qualifiers around the world
It was a week to forget for Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso Sing-yu. Firstly, he was well beaten in the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Amman, Jordan. And if that wasn’t enough to put a good man down, he found out that a 26-year-old South Korean woman on the same flight as him returning home tested positive for coronavirus.
Tso and the rest of the Hong Kong boxing squad who travelled to Amman, Jordan were put under home quarantine on Friday upon their return from Amman. But they were given a massive scare on Monday when they were informed they shared the same flight as a passenger, who tested positive for Covid-19 in Macau. Tso and the Hong Kong squad were on the same connecting flight (Emirates flight EK380) as the woman travelling from Dubai on Friday.
Tso also received more bad news with the world Olympic qualification event, scheduled for Paris in May, likely to be suspended, leaving his Tokyo 2020 hopes in limbo.
After losing two bouts out of three in Amman, the 32-year-old Tso’s last hope of qualifying for Tokyo was the Paris tournament, but that trip looks doubtful after the European, American and final world qualifying boxing tournaments for Tokyo were suspended, it was announced late on Monday.
‘I boxed so poorly’ – Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso suffers embarrassing loss as Olympic dreams are left in tatters
The IOC said the European qualifier in London that was already underway and due to run to March 24 would end after the evening session last night. Paris is also likely to be follow suit, meaning Hong Kong’s “Wonder Kid” Tso might not be able to book his Tokyo ticket or at least have his Olympic qualifying plans delayed yet again.
For the moment, Tso can only rest-up at home after disappointing in Amman where he looked out of sorts against younger, more skilled fighters. Tso reverted to amateur status more than two years ago after a glorious professional career where he was unbeaten in 22 fights. The boxing star has struggled as an amateur, being more accustomed to fighting over 12 rounds. He fought his last fight as a professional in late 2017.
Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso no match for world champion in Amman Olympic qualifiers
The Hong Kong Boxing Association (HKBA) is closely monitoring the delegation that travelled to Amman including the five men and one woman boxer who all failed to qualify for Tokyo.
The HKBA said all boxers, coaches and officials who had travelled to Amman had seen a doctor and had been advised to stay at home for the next two weeks.
“They have all seen a doctor and if they begin to show any symptoms, they will be tested [for coronavirus]. We understand that all members of the Hong Kong delegation did not sit close to the infected woman on the flight. They were quite far away. But they need to take precautions. They are all healthy at the moment and have not developed any fever. As for the Paris tournament, we don’t really know what is happening but we expect everything to be delayed,” said HKBA sport executive Alex Yeung Ho.
Hong Kong coach Tang Chi-wai said on Monday that no member of the squad showed symptoms of the virus and were all healthy.
“There was no problem at all,” said Tang. “We will all stay at home for the next 14 days. This is normal protocol,” he said.
