Ao Weng-I (left) and Chau Cheng-han of Macao, China compete during the duet technical routine of artistic swimming at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 6, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Macao, with a population of about 700,000 and an area of 32.9 square kilometers, emerged as a true contender at the 19th Asian Games, securing six medals and ranking 25th in the overall medals tally.

Despite historical reasons that have rendered the city ineligible for the Olympics, the city never let go of the chance to make its marks in continental games and various world championships.

Macao athletes know their strengths. Of the 38 medals they have gained since their inaugural participation in the Asian Games in 1990, 19 have come from wushu (martial arts) and 14 from karate - an achievement that has fueled a sense of anticipation within the town.

Kuok Kin-hang of Macao, China competes during the men's individual kata gold medal match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 5, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Chinese mainland has long been a land of luck for Macao athletes. During its debut at the 1990 Games in Beijing - the first Asian Games hosted by China - Macao immediately secured a bronze medal, by wushu athlete Wong Tong-leong in the men's nanquan category. The first gold came 20 years later, when wushu athlete Rui Jia clinched the men's daoshu and gunshu all-around title in Guangzhou, a city near Macao in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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This year, in Hangzhou, its veteran wushu athlete, Li Yi, participating in her third Asiad, became the city's first female gold medalist. The victory stands as Macao's third gold, following the championship of wushu athlete Huang Jun-hua in men's nanquan and nangun all-around in 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Li Yi of China's Macao competes during the Women's Changquan Final of Wushu at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Sept 25, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Before the Macao men's kata team won the city its sixth medal, a silver, on Sunday, Kuok Kin-hang and Cai Fei-long netted two silver medals in the men's individual kata and the men's 75kg wushu respectively. Song Chi-kuan clinched a bronze medal in the men's changquan, and Huang Jun-hua grabbed another bronze in the men's nanquan and nangun all-around.

Through a series of concerted efforts, Macao athletes have exemplified the spirit of "promoting Chinese sportsmanship through sports and exchanges" - an expectation of Macao Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng when he saw off the delegation before the Hangzhou Games. As long as the city adheres to the traditions of Chinese culture and harnesses its unique characteristics, alongside the unwavering support of hard-working athletes, a future filled with even more achievements awaits.

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China Daily photographer Andy Chong has been in Hangzhou, capturing this inspiring journey of Macao.

Lo Ka-wai of Macao, China competes during the women's 10m platform preliminary diving at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 3, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Members of the delegation of China's Macao parade into the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, Sept 23, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Yousef Sabriabibegloo (left) of Iran competes with Cai Feilong of China's Macao during the men's 75kg final of wushu at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Sept 28, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Macao's Vong Man-tek (right) and Nurlanbek Uulu Kalys of Kyrgyzstan compete in the men’s kumite -67kg R16 at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Oct 7, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)