Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Taiwanese-American athlete Alec Hsu is expected to represent Taiwan in the pole vault competition at the upcoming Asian Games once he obtains a Taiwanese passport and citizenship, an official of the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association (CTAA) said Wednesday.
Hsu, 19, is currently a sophomore at Rice University in Houston, Texas and is on the school's track and field team. He contacted the association in July, expressing his interest in competing for Taiwan in Guangzhou, China in November, CTAA Secretary-General Wang Ching-cheng told CNA.
"At the time, I didn't know where this kid came from," Wang said. "I didn't know where he learned about our selection criteria -- I was totally surprised. "
However, the CTTA is happy that Hsu saw the selection criteria on the CTTA Website and is seeking an opportunity to represent his mother country, Wang said.
At 1.88-meters tall, Hsu has a good athletic build and a bright future, according to Wang.
Hsu's personal best of 5.22 meters in an outdoor setting is much better than the CTTA's criteria of 5.10 meters to qualify for the men's pole vault, but competitors will need to vault at least 5.40 meters to be in line for a bronze medal at the Asian Games, Wang said.
"Hsu will have a much better chance of winning a medal at the 2014 Asian Games, which will be held in Incheon, South Korea, " Wang said.
Nonetheless, the CTTA has asked Taiwan's representative office in Los Angeles to issue Hsu a passport as soon as possible, Wang said. After that, the association will help Hsu to obtain Taiwan citizenship.
Dual citizenship is allowed in Taiwan and in the United States.
Hsu is from Phoenix, Arizona, where he led Desert Vista High School to three straight Arizona State championships. He also competed in the 110-meter hurdle event in high school and university, Wang said. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc