Press Release

HKBU enrols eight elite athletes in its undergraduate programmes 

Thursday, 26 October 2023

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has enrolled eight elite Hong Kong athletes through the Talented Athletes Direct Admission Scheme (TADAS) and Students with Exceptional Talent Direct Admissions Scheme (SETDAS) in the 2023/24 academic year.

A scholarship presentation ceremony was held today (26 October). Professor Martin Wong, Provost of HKBU, presented certificates to the student athletes.

The six athletes admitted through TADAS are volleyball player Kong Cheuk-hin, Wushu athlete Lau Po-yan and Ngan Ka-wing, fencers Leung Lok-man and Leung Ya-lei, and visually impaired swimmer Lip Kin-kwan. Basketball player Ho Pui-ying and volleyball player Wan Ka-nam have been admitted through SETDAS.

Leung Ya-lei was enrolled in the Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biomedical Science programme offered by HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine. The other seven athletes were admitted to the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Physical Education and Recreation Management programme offered by the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health.

In his speech at the ceremony, Professor Yannis Pitsiladis, Head of the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health at HKBU, said: “I am excited to see the diversity of students that the University’s Direct Admission Schemes have successfully attracted, with student-athletes from a broad range of sports admitted over the years. These admission schemes continue to attract high performing talents year after year, demonstrating both the sporting excellence in Hong Kong, and the commitment of our university in supporting athletes in the pursuit of sport and higher education at the same time.”

Kong Cheuk-hin and Wan Ka-nam, together with  five HKBU student volleyball players Chan King-hoi, Chau Pui-yee, Hui Ching, Lam Sze-lok and Leung Hin-wai, showcased their sporting skills in a volleyball performance at the ceremony. As a token of thanks, they prepared a jersey of the Men’s Volleyball Team of Hong Kong, China signed by all the team members who participated in the Hangzhou Asian Games as a special gift for Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor.

The ceremony also featured sharings by a number of elite student athletes of the University. Lau Po-yan and her brother Lau Chi-lung, who is also a Wushu athlete and a TADAS admittee in 2022, shared their inspiring sporting journey. Leung Ya-lei shared her reasons for choosing Chinese Medicine as the subject for her university study. Shuttlecock player Yan Nuo, who was admitted to HKBU in 2021, recounted her rich and colourful university life.

HKBU is committed to providing comprehensive support to Hong Kong athletes and contributing to the city’s sports development. In 2016, the University established the Elite Athletes Admission Scheme (EAAS), and in 2022, it introduced TADAS in response to the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA Scheme) launched by the University Grants Committee. These initiatives aim to provide flexible study arrangements for outstanding athletes in Hong Kong. HKBU has also launched SETDAS to acknowledge exceptional talents that may not be fully reflected in academic performance, further enhancing support for athletes.

Please refer to the Appendix for a brief introduction to the sporting achievements of the athletes.

Appendix

Introduction to the sporting achievements of the elite student athletes

enrolled to HKBU in the 2023/24 academic year

TADAS admittees

Kong Cheuk-hin (Volleyball)

·         Member of the Men’s Volleyball Team of Hong Kong, China

·         Captain of the U20 Men’s Volleyball Team of Hong Kong, China

·         Top 12 in the 2023 Asian Men’s Volleyball Challenge Cup

Lau Po-yan (Wushu)

·         Gold medal in the 2022 FISH University World Cup Combat Sport Women’s Nandao event

·         Gold medal in the 2022 FISH University World Cup Combat Sport Women’s Nanquan event

·         Gold medal in the 7th World Junior Wushu Championships Girl’s Nangun event

Leung Lok-man (Fencing)

·         Gold medal in the 2022 Asian U23 Fencing Championships Women’s Sabre Team event

·         Bronze medal in the 2023 Asian Fencing Championships Women’s Sabre Team event

Leung Ya-lei (Fencing)

·         Gold medal in the 2022 Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships Junior Category Foil Individual event

·         Gold medal in the 2022 Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships Junior Category Foil Team event

·         Silver medal in the 2022 U23 Asian Fencing Championships Foil Team

Lip Kin-kwan (Para Swimming)

·         Gold medal in the 10th National Games for Persons with Disabilities - Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB13

·         Gold medal in the 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities - Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB13

Ngan Ka-wing (Wushu)

·         Silver medal in the SJM 11th Junior Wushu Championships Girl’s Tai Ji Shan event

·         Bronze medal in the 9th Asian Junior Wushu Championships Girl’s Tai Ji Shan event

SETDAS admittees

Ho Pui-ying (Basketball)

·         3rd runner-up in the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship

·         Grantham Outstanding Student Athlete Awards 2018-2019

Wan Ka-nam (Volleyball)

·         Member of the Men’s Volleyball Team of Hong Kong, China

·         Top 12 in the 2023 Asian Men’s Volleyball Challenge Cup

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Professor Martin Wong, Provost of HKBU (middle) presents scholarship certificates at the ceremony, and joins the elite student athletes together with Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) (first left) for a group photo.
The ceremony features sharings by elite student athletes, including Lau Chi-lung (first left), Lau Po-yan (second left), Leung Ya-lei (second right) and Yan Nuo (first right). The sharing session is hosted by Dr Hon Sze-sze, Lecturer I of the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health of HKBU (middle).