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Celebrating student athletes’ success at Asian Games

3 Nov 2023

On a warm November afternoon, over 30 HKBU athletes gathered on campus in celebration of their achievements at the Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

The special reception, dubbed “Cheers to HKBU Asian Games Athletes”, brought together HKBU athletes who had excelled at the Games held in Hangzhou over September and October.

This year, the University’s student athletes produced an impressive score sheet of one gold, two silver and four bronze medals across various competitions at the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games. HKBU alumni also contributed to Hong Kong’s success at the Games, earning two silver medals and a bronze medal.

In recognition of their exemplary performances, Dr Clement Chen, Chairman of the Council and the Court, presented scholarships totalling around HK$1.2 million to the University’s medallists and participants of the Games.

Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, applauded the athletes’ determination and sportsmanship. He also highlighted the University’ dedication to nurturing sporting talent for Hong Kong. “It is encouraging to see that the University's commitment to supporting elite athletes bears fruit. With the introduction of the ‘Talented Athletes Direct Admission Scheme’ as well as the learning and teaching support services provided by different units of the University, not only can our student athletes pursue academic studies while realising their full potentials in sports, they also make significant contributions to the sports scene in Hong Kong,” he said.

At the reception, students Cheung Ka-long and Wong Tsz-to as well as alumna Ho Yuen-kei shared their inspiring journey to success on the international stage. Ka-long, a gold and bronze medallist in the Men’s Foil Individual and Team event respectively at the Asian Games, was awarded a scholarship under HKBU’s Talented Athletes Direct Admission Scheme last year to study in the Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Recreation Management programme. He finds his university experience enjoyable, and he is particularly interested in learning about how to cope with sports injuries. He also appreciates the University’s flexible study arrangement when he attends overseas competitions.

Tsz-to, who won a bronze medal in the Triathlon Mixed Relay event, mentioned that teaching assistants are assigned to support student athletes and follow up on their learning. In addition, Yuen-kei, winner of a silver medal in the mixed BC3 Doubles Boccia event, was happy to see that the University has improved campus accessibility, providing a user-friendly learning environment for people with mobility impairments.

The event also featured an array of fun game booths, including a basketball shooting machine, a showcase of fencing equipment, a windsurfing balance game, and a rowing game. Students bonded over the activities and had an engaging experience trying out the various sports games.