Press Release

HKBU enrols twelve elite athletes

Thursday, 17 Oct 2019

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has enrolled 12 students through its Elite Athletes Admission Scheme (EAAS) this year. It is the first time that rowing and volleyball athletes have been recruited to HKBU under this scheme.

The 12 athletes include outstanding current and former members of Hong Kong sports teams. With the scholarships awarded under the EAAS, they are now studying Year 1 or Year 3 of the Physical Education & Recreation Management (PERM) programme at HKBU. The scholarship presentation ceremony was held today (17 October). Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) of HKBU, presented the EAAS certificates to the 12 elite athletes.

Addressing the ceremony, Professor Julien S Baker, Head of the Department of Sport and Physical Education, thanked the University and student athletes for their continued support of the scheme. He said that a total of 48 local elite athletes have been awarded EAAS scholarships over the past four years. They act as ambassadors and become role models in the community and on campus through their promotion of sports culture. “The Department will continue to provide athletes with various types of support so that they can strike a good balance between training, competing and studying,” added Professor Baker.

Sat Pak-long, an elite athlete from the new cohort of EAAS students and a member of the Hong Kong Wushu Team, won one silver medal and two bronze medals at the 3rd World Taijiquan Championships last year. He performed Tai Chi and shared his university experience at the ceremony. “The liberal academic vibe and flexible programme at HKBU allows me to focus on both training and studying. I am now planning to participate in the Asian Championships next year,” he said.

“The scholarship reduces the financial burden on my family and affirms my focus on being an athlete. It helps me strike a balance between training and studying, and enhances my performance in sport,” said Poon Ka-ka, a soccer and handball athlete who was recruited under the EAAS last year.

The elite athletes recruited to HKBU under the EAAS this year are as follows:

PERM Year 1:

Chan Mei-ching (Rowing)

Cheung Wing-yan (Swimming)

De Vries Tiffanie Adriana Yan Tung (Rugby)

Fung Ho-ying (Karate)

Sit Wai-lok (Athletics)

PERM Year 3:

Chan Tsz-ching (Soccer)

Lau Ho-ting (Volleyball)

Ivy Liu Hoi-yan (Athletics)

Sat Pak-long (Wushu)

Tam On-yu (Handball)

Christie Wong Nga-man (Basketball)

Wu Cheuk-yan (Athletics)

Launched in 2016, the EAAS scholarship offered by HKBU is given to up to 20 recipients in each cohort. It accepts undergraduate student applications through the JUPAS and Non-JUPAS admission schemes. Athletes are required to meet the entry requirements of HKBU and should be members of HKSAR sports teams, with a record of exceptional performances in the Olympic or Asian games. Retired athletes from HKSAR sports teams who have achieved exceptional results in international sports events are also eligible to apply. Selected athletes can study any degree programme offered by HKBU and are not limited to physical education programmes.

The EAAS is now calling for applications from local athletes for the 2020/2021 academic year. The deadline is 22 November 2019 for Non-JUPAS applicants and 10 January 2020 for JUPAS applicants. Please visit this website for more information: https://sa.hkbu.edu.hk/sfa/f/page/641/26977/HKBU EAAS_2020.pdf

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Media enquiries:
Winnie Shum of the Communication and Public Relations Office (3411 5262, hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk).