7 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong should ‘gain some ground' on new sports such as AirBadminton: ex-badminton player
Former Hong Kong badminton player Vincent Wong Wing-ki said the development of emerging sports such as AirBadminton was important, and could be advantageous for the city in its pursuit of good results in every sphere.
Wong, who retired from badminton in August 2022, switched to the new version of the sport – which uses the same racquets but different shuttlecocks and is played outdoors – soon after and was part of the city squad that qualified for the World Beach Games in August 2023.
However, that tournament was cancelled a month before it opened after hosts Indonesia withdrew, citing a lack of funding.
'It was a shame back then after we qualified, so our aim this time is to reach the World Cup later this year,' said Wong. 'I think we could make the most of our experience from last time, and I am optimistic that we will qualify.'
To that end, Hong Kong are sending four men and four women to Malaysia next month for the AirBadminton Asia Pacific Continental Championships, organised by the Badminton World Federation. The podium finishers in the mixed team relay will qualify for the sport's inaugural World Cup in December.
Hong Kong's AirBadminton team training at the beach court in Kai Tak Sports Park. Photo: Elson Li
Countries that qualify for the mixed team relay - which consists of men's and women's doubles, and men's and women's triples - can also send a team to the triples events at the World Cup.
