Latest news with #HongKongTeam
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
National Games: Kho, Ding to lead Hong Kong's golfers in search of gold at Fanling
Taichi Kho and Ginnie Ding will lead a Hong Kong team of established and rising stars into a National Games challenge that could pit them against some of the best in the world. With the likes of men's star Li Haotong, who finished in a tie for fourth at the Open Championship last month, and women's world No 5 Yin Ruoning among their potential opponents, the city has named a strong squad for November's tournament, which is being played at Hong Kong Golf Club. Asian Tour star Kho will be joined by two of his Asian Games bronze medal-winning teammates, Matthew Cheung and Jason Hak Sun-yat, with amateur Jeffrey Shen Wang-ngai completing the foursome. Ding, who is playing her debut season on the Ladies European Tour, is joined by Olympian Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching, Arianna Lau and Sophie Han. Kho, who took individual gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and won the World City Championship at Fanling to become the first Hongkonger to win on the Asian Tour, said it would be a 'really special experience to play in such a prestigious event in front of friends and family'. Danny Lai, the Golf Association of Hong Kong, China CEO, said hosting the tournament showed 'just how far the game has come in Hong Kong'.
South China Morning Post
18-07-2025
- 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.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong have nothing to fear from China, Chan says
Philip Chan Siu-kwan fanned the flames ahead of Hong Kong's clash with China on Tuesday, saying the city had nothing to fear from opponents who were hardly 'Brazil or Argentina'. The midfielder, who returned from a three-month injury lay-off as a late substitute in Friday's 2-0 defeat by South Korea in the East Asian Football Championship, was in the Hong Kong team that beat China 2-1 in a friendly 18 months ago. While China tumbled out of World Cup qualifying contention last month, they are ranked 94th in the world, 53 places higher than Hong Kong. The teams are fighting to avoid finishing last in the tournament, after both were beaten by Japan and the hosts in their opening two games in Seoul. 'There is so much rivalry,' Chan said. 'China's football development is at a more advanced level than ours. 'They're very competitive, definitely higher than us in terms of ranking and ability. But we have the heart and desire … we've done great things over the past year or two, we've beaten them before, so why not [do it again]? With the standard of players we have, anything is possible.'
South China Morning Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Glory night for Hong Kong football must be start of something special
Every new sports arena, no matter how impressive, needs to bear witness to memorable events to become an iconic venue revered by fans. On Tuesday night, Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium played host to such an occasion. The city's football team snatched a dramatic last-gasp victory over India in a crucial match, cheered on by more than 42,000 ecstatic fans. As Hong Kong's head coach Ashley Westwood said, it will be talked about for years to come. But there is still work to be done. Advertisement The atmosphere was of a kind rarely seen at football matches in the city. The aim must be to ensure that the victory – and the celebrations accompanying it – are not a one-off. It should be the start of something special. Westwood has come under fire from fans. His name was booed before the match kicked off. Supporters have taken issue with his team selection, objecting to a perceived preference for naturalised players, as well as a recent goal drought. The coach has, however, led the team on a run of 10 successive international games without defeat. Most wins have been against lower-ranked opponents. But the dramatic victory over India, who were 53 places higher than Hong Kong in the global ratings going into the game, puts the city's team in a strong position to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals. They deserve support as they seek to reap the rewards of recent results. Hong Kong competed in the finals last year for the first time in more than half a century. The qualifying campaign will resume in October. Advertisement Hong Kong football needs all the backing it can get. The domestic game does not receive enough sponsorship or interest from fans. The local Premier League struggles to attract top players and attendances are low.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong should play all future matches at Kai Tak Stadium, goalscorer Pereira says
Hong Kong's match-winner Stefan Pereira said he hoped the city's football team could make Kai Tak Stadium their regular home after more than 42,000 fans roared them to victory there on Tuesday. A 1-0 defeat of India on the team's debut appearance at the new venue rewarded a crowd that dwarfed the 6,092 who showed up for a scoreless friendly with Nepal at Hong Kong Stadium last week. And Pereira, whose stoppage-time penalty earned Hong Kong three crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying points, was keen to harness the fervour on show. 'I hope this can become our home ground – the atmosphere is amazing and everyone saw how we played,' Pereira said. 'We've never felt something like this. 'When we saw so many people screaming and supporting us, and shouting 'ga yau', it was an amazing feeling. We will win games here if we have these people supporting us. Hong Kong players celebrate winning their first match at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang 'I hope many people celebrate this victory, and the fans come to games more and more.'
