New blood and old heads give Hong Kong belief in netball World Cup bid
Hong Kong players old and new have high hopes they can win the Asian Netball Championships for the first time in more than 30 years, and qualify for the 2027 World Cup in the process.
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In the past, the top two finishers in five regional qualifiers have progressed to the World Cup, alongside six other teams, including the host nation. In two years' time, that will be Australia.
But the city's women do not have a great track record at the biennial regional tournament, having won it only once, when it was staged in Hong Kong in 1993. They have not managed to finish in the top three since then.
The next tournament though will be held at Kai Tak Sports Park, and Gessy Li Ga-wing, 27, believed that would give her team its best chance of qualifying for the 'Olympic-like' tournament for the first time since 2003.
'Any netball player wants to go to the World Cup, it's like the Olympics for us,' said Li, who has been playing the sport for 15 years. 'We're still working to be an Olympic sport, so the World Cup is the highest level you can play.
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'The opportunity to play with the top teams like Australia and New Zealand excites me. I know this team can get there because we have a good mix of veterans and new players coming in.'
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South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
New blood and old heads give Hong Kong belief in netball World Cup bid
Hong Kong players old and new have high hopes they can win the Asian Netball Championships for the first time in more than 30 years, and qualify for the 2027 World Cup in the process. Advertisement In the past, the top two finishers in five regional qualifiers have progressed to the World Cup, alongside six other teams, including the host nation. In two years' time, that will be Australia. But the city's women do not have a great track record at the biennial regional tournament, having won it only once, when it was staged in Hong Kong in 1993. They have not managed to finish in the top three since then. The next tournament though will be held at Kai Tak Sports Park, and Gessy Li Ga-wing, 27, believed that would give her team its best chance of qualifying for the 'Olympic-like' tournament for the first time since 2003. 'Any netball player wants to go to the World Cup, it's like the Olympics for us,' said Li, who has been playing the sport for 15 years. 'We're still working to be an Olympic sport, so the World Cup is the highest level you can play. Advertisement 'The opportunity to play with the top teams like Australia and New Zealand excites me. I know this team can get there because we have a good mix of veterans and new players coming in.'
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Olympic great Simone Biles shares mental health journey on first Hong Kong visit
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South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
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Olympic icon Simone Biles talks to Hong Kong students about protecting your mental health
Simone Biles has 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship wins. She is often considered one of the best gymnasts of all time. Still, even she has to deal with negativity online. 'That was hard for me to wrap my head around, [but] since we are competing on a global stage, there is going to be feedback,' Biles, 28, told the crowd eager to hear her speak during her first visit to Hong Kong last month. Reading such harsh remarks can be difficult for her, and replying to them only puts her in a negative mindset, so she has learned to protect herself. 'When I'm not mentally well enough to read the comments, I turn them off or ignore them,' she said. She also reminds herself that many of these people are strangers: 'They don't know me, and they don't know my character, so how can they judge through a screen?' During the one-hour event hosted by UBS investment bank, Biles spoke to more than 500 students – many of them budding gymnasts – about her record-breaking career and maintaining her mental health under so much public pressure. As a professional athlete, taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health, Biles explained. 'Elite athletes [face] a lot of mental effort to step onto the big stage and compete for your country. Obviously, it's such an honour, but it can be really tough,' she said. Sports psychologist discusses why teen athletes struggle to keep their head in the game Knowing when to step back The training schedule of a professional athlete is gruelling: Biles and her team train 32 to 34 hours a week. They do two workouts on weekdays and one on Saturday, taking only Sunday off. Considering how much time is spent training, Biles stunned the world at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when she withdrew from several events, including the team final, all-around final, and individual event finals. The reason for her decision was a mental condition called the 'twisties', a term gymnasts use to describe the feeling of losing perception of their bodies while in the air. Having the twisties can make them feel like their rhythm is off and that they are not in control of their movements – and it can lead to serious injuries. Biles looks back on the experience – and the way she prioritised her mental health – positively. Simone Biles poses with her gold medal during the podium ceremony after the artistic gymnastics women's all around final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 1, 2024. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS 'I think the mental health journey is something so unique and special, and it's very personal to you, but really, it's the most courageous I've ever felt,' she said. 'The number one reason why I did it was to speak out and stand up for myself. And for the first time, I felt worth more than gold, and that people could relate to me.' Having a strong support system helped her feel confident about her decision: 'My team, my family, the nurses and doctors and the mental health specialists, they all understood, and we were all on the same page that this was the correct move,' she said. 'Having people in your circle of trust that help you and you can confide in really, really helps,' she explained. 'If I'm ever having a bad day, they let me have bad days, and they cheer me up. On the good days, they still uplift me.' Just three years later, Biles competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning three gold medals and one silver. 'Fly High' charity sports programme gets Hong Kong youth moving Meaning of mentorship Outside of gymnastics, Biles is also passionate about supporting children in the foster care community. When she was only three years old, she and her siblings entered foster care because their biological mom was struggling with substance abuse. After a few years, Biles was adopted by her grandfather and his wife. 'I never let what happened to me stop me from believing in my dreams,' she said. 'It doesn't matter how you start; it matters where your journey takes you and how you walk that path.' For the last few years, she has worked with Friends of the Children. The organisation partners with community organisations, schools, and foster care systems to pair children in need of long-term, nurturing relationships with an older friend who acts as their mentor. Biles said the organisation has expanded from around four chapters to more than 40 across the US during her involvement. 'A lot of people think that foster kids can't do great things, but I think we've proven over so many years [we can]. Never let that determine who you are,' she said. Biles' story inspired many of the students who came to listen to her. Photo: Handout Students who listened to her story said they were inspired. Fifteen-year-old Ila Chan, who has been on the Hong Kong gymnastics team since she was nine, said her biggest takeaway was learning how to cope with stress and handle high-pressure situations. 'She should keep going because she's an idol for lots of people around the world,' Ila said. Meanwhile, Lexie Rhodes, 12, who has been doing gymnastics for around five years, said she felt encouraged to recharge, saying she learned the importance of letting off steam and taking the time to relax. Biles appreciates the chance to serve as a role model and encourage young people, especially aspiring athletes. She offered up a tip for staying motivated and avoiding burnout: make sure you're always having fun. 'You never know how long your career is gonna last,' she said. 'So I would say to just have fun. Dream big, and then dream bigger after that. As long as you're having fun, you can accomplish anything and love what you do.'
