Latest news with #HKSI
South China Morning Post
18-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Siobhan Haughey's wish? A top-class Hong Kong swimming arena so she can race for home fans
Siobhan Haughey has said she hopes to see an elite-level swimming arena built in Hong Kong before she eventually retires, because she still holds ambitions of competing in her hometown. Advertisement Asked what the city's next major sporting development should be after last month's opening of the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park, the four-time Olympic medallist proposed an elite aquatics facility, adding that she craved the chance to swim in one. How many years Hong Kong has to make Haughey's wish come true is still to be determined, with the 27-year-old taking a wait-and-see approach to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Last Saturday, she began her preparations for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July and August, returning from a three-month break with 100 metres breaststroke victory in Hong Kong's Long Course Swimming Time Trial. It was held behind closed doors at Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI). 'I'm focusing on the Mare Nostrum [Swim Tour in May], the world championships and maybe the National Games [in November], then I'll go from there,' Haughey told the Post. Siobhan Haughey races at Hong Kong Sports Institute following her three-month break. Photo: Edmond So 'Three years is a very long time to plan. I don't want to say I'm fully committed to Los Angeles yet. After this year, I will have a better sense of where I am, physically and mentally.'
South China Morning Post
16-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong spent HK$823 million on its athletes in 2023-24. Here's where it went
Hong Kong Sports Institute on Wednesday released a report detailing its budget and achievements in 2023-24, revealing that it spent HK$822.9 million on training athletes. Advertisement The taxpayer-funded organisation's outlay supported 1,443 senior and junior athletes, 620 of whom it listed as being full-time, during a period when the city won 53 medals at the Asian Games. Hong Kong also collected 47 medals at the Asian Para Games, 12 at the World University Games and 33 at various world championships. According to the HKSI report, a breakdown of the HK$822.9 million included HK$176 million in payments to athletes under the 'direct financial support scheme' and HK$646.9 million for athletes' training programmes, sports science and medicine support, lifestyle provisions and education subsidies for the athletes. The Asian Games of 2023 were the city's best in terms of total medals won – albeit that it took 680 athletes, 100 more than went to the previous edition in 2018, and earned the same tally of eight gold medals. Siobhan Haughey was among Hong Kong's gold medallists at the Asian Games in 2023. Photo: AFP Topping the podium were Siobhan Haughey – twice – in swimming, fencer Cheung Ka-long, Taichi Kho in golf, men's rowers Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun, cyclist Yang Qianyu, the men's rugby sevens team and the men's bridge team.
South China Morning Post
11-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong sport should be run like HSBC, be more professional, triathlon coach says
Hong Kong's sporting bodies should be run in the unforgiving image of big business, according to Andrew Wright, the city's triathlon head coach. Advertisement Triathlon's Tier A status means its athletes receive between HK$35,450 (US$4,600) and HK$41,740 per month from Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), funded by the taxpayer. Wright, though, insisted on raising the minimum benchmarks needed for his athletes to keep that support this year, having decided the previous yardsticks were 'substandard'. 'These sports need to be run like big businesses,' Wright said. 'If you were working for HSBC and not performing, the same would happen. 'It's doing an athlete a favour, because [not reaching benchmarks] shows triathlon is not what they should be doing with their time. It's fair to them, and it's fair for everyone else.' Jason Ng Tai-long transitions to bike during the Asia Triathlon Sprint Championships. Photo: Eugene Lee None of Wright's squad gained automatic qualification for November's National Games after underwhelming performances in last Saturday's Hong Kong-hosted Asia Triathlon Sprint Championships.
South China Morning Post
01-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Wong says public cash crucial to athletes' security, ‘motivates me even more'
Coleman Wong Chak-lam has said the government's decision to allow tennis to retain its Tier A status would 'make a huge difference' in his bid to be among the best in the world, and for aspiring players. Advertisement Last week, tennis and billiard sports were told they could keep their elite standings at Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), just hours after Wong's historic performance at the Miami Open ended. The 20-year-old became the first Hongkonger to win an ATP Masters 1000 match when he beat German Daniel Altmaier in the first round and then stunned the tennis world by knocking out world No 14 Ben Shelton. Wong's run ended when he lost to Adam Walton in the round of 32. Coleman said he and his team talked about the impact of losing funding, and he had tried to 'not let it affect me and just focus on tennis'. 'I really trust my team, my parents behind me to support and help me make the best decision, I'm really lucky to have them,' he said. 'But at the same time, I heard the news that tennis is going to keep [its status] for another two years. Advertisement 'It makes a huge difference because obviously I have my coach, my physio, and a lot of hotels and expenses. So for me, it motivates me even more to keep going and hopefully [the funding can] stay there after two years.'
South China Morning Post
28-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Lacrosse bosses eye place among Hong Kong elite, as 2028 LA Olympics loom
Lacrosse bosses have their sights set on earning a place at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, but said they were still some way from reaching the level needed to take their place alongside the city's elite. Advertisement Expected to make its debut as an Olympic event at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, lacrosse is not yet a top sport locally, although it could earn Tier B status in about a year if the city's teams are successful on the field. Raymond Fong Kong, the head of the sport's governing body in the city, said he was optimistic that lacrosse could make the cut next year. 'We do not have enough points for now, but are confident we can achieve the target this summer,' the chairman of the Hong Kong, China Lacrosse Association said. 'There will be a national championship later this year in Chengdu … we are targeting at least a podium finish and that should give us enough points, so, the earliest for us to make it would be April 2026.' According to the government's Elite Vote Support Scheme, sports with a score between 7.5 and 10 – whether Olympic or Asian Games sports or not – are eligible for Tier B status at HKSI. Members of the men's and women's Hong Kong lacrosse teams take part in a press event to announce the return of the city's Hong Kong Lacrosse Open in April. Photo: Handout Funding and supported depends on the sport, and athletes receive an elite training grant if their discipline features in the Olympics or Asian Games, or a sports aid grant if it does not.
