Hong Kong have named their strongest ever triathlon squad “by a long way” for September’s Asian Games, although doubts persist over whether Bailee Brown and Robin Elg will overcome their respective injuries in time to compete in Japan.

With Oscar Coggins automatically qualified following his recent Asia Triathlon Super Sprint Elite championship bronze, and Elg a shoo-in, Wong Tsz-to claimed the third men’s spot ahead of Jason Ng Tai-long, the Paris Olympian.

After being slightly unfortunate to miss selection for last year’s National Games, Tallulah Wright has been chosen alongside twin sister Cade, and Brown, leaving no place for Hilda Choi Yan-yin, a mixed relay bronze medallist in 2018.

Andrew Wright, the head coach, who is not related to the sisters, said he “could not discuss individual cases” but that selection decisions had been founded on “how athletes have performed, as well as who can deliver medals or help others deliver medals”.

“It’s our strongest squad by a long way, but the standard of other nations is also much stronger,” he added.

Wong appears to have been rewarded for finishing well in front of Ng in both the recent Asian sprint race and a continental cup event in Lianyungang last month.