Nandini Dulani (left) and Eva Chong of Hong Kong, 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)
Hong Kong athletes have won praise for their record-breaking performance at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou by clinching a total of 53 medals — eight golds, 16 silvers and 29 bronzes — as Asia’s premier sporting event closed in the Zheijiang provincial capital on Sunday.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Sunday praised the special administrative region’s athletes’ perseverance and distinguished performance, saying they lived up to the SAR’s expectations with their biggest-ever medals haul.
Grace Lau Mo-sheung of Hong Kong, China competes during the women's individual kata bronze medal match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 5, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Yang Qianyu of China's Hong Kong (front) competes during women's road race of cycling road at the 19th Asian Games in Chun'an county, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 4, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
In a letter to the city’s team to the Asiad, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region expressed its congratulations to the athletes for their best-ever performance at the Games.
The athletes’ performance has shown the spirit of Hong Kong athletes and the mission and responsibility of the city’s young people, presenting the world a positive image of Hong Kong, the letter read.
The Liaison Office called on Hong Kong athletes to promote sportsmanship and the Olympics spirit and actively contribute to the building of a better city and stronger country by upholding the “one country, two systems” principle to vigorously promote mainstream values that are compatible with “one country, two systems”, with patriotism at the core.
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Players of Hong Kong, China women's rugby team pose for a photo during an award ceremony at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sept 26, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Women's rugby players of Hong Kong, China compete during a bronze medal match against Thailand at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou on Sept 26, 2023. Hong Kong, China wins a bronze medal with a score of 7:5 (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Men's rugby players of Hong Kong, China compete during a match against South Korea at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou on Sept 26, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Hong Kong athletes also made history in many other events at the Asian Games, including winning the first gold medal in golf and in the women’s road race of cycling, plus a historic appearance in the semifinals of the men’s soccer competition.
“Hong Kong athletes have endured arduous training over the years and fought hard in the competitions, displaying professional sportsmanship. I believe that all Hong Kong people, like myself, are extremely proud of the grace shown by all our athletes at the Games,” Lee said.
Poon Pui-hin of Hong Kong, China attempts to score during a quarterfinal match against Iran at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 1, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Hong Kong's soccer team celebrates its entrance into the semifinals, the best performance for the city's team in the Asiad. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Pledging to make every effort to promote sports development in the SAR, he said the government will introduce suitable measures to boost sports culture in the community and raise the performance level of sports. For the 2023-24 financial year, the SAR government has set aside about HK$1.18 billion ($151 million) in funding for work on supporting elite sports.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who was in Hangzhou to attend the Asian Games’ closing ceremony, visited the Asian Games Athletes Village on Sunday and met with 10 Hong Kong athletes.
Tang Chun-man (left) and Tse Ying-suet of Hong Kong, China compete during the mixed doubles round of 16 match against Singapore at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 4, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Wong Chun-ting of Hong Kong, China competes during the table tennis men’s singles final match against Wang Chuqin of China at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 2, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
In his social media page, Chan thanked the athletes for bringing glory to Hong Kong. He said the SAR government will continue going all-out to support elite athletes in their academic studies and sports. This will encourage more young athletes to become full-time athletes and help inject a steady stream of new people into the city’s sports sector.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung also congratulated the Hong Kong athletes, saying they demonstrated sportsmanship.
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(From left) China’s Hong Kong women's epee team members Vivian Kong Man-wai, Chan Wai-ling, Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan and Moonie Chu Ka-mong pose with their silver medals during the award ceremony at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Sept 27, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
China’s Hong Kong team member compete during the women's epee team final match against South Korea at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Sept 27, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Edgar Cheung Ka-long (right) of Hong Kong, China competes against Takahiro Shikine of Japan in the men's individual foil gold medal bout event at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sept 24, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Yeung will receive the Hong Kong team at the airport on their return to the city on Monday.
Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of the Legislative Council, said on his social media page the city’s legislature will spare no efforts, and work with the government and various sectors to promote sports development and cultivate more elite athletes.
A welcome-home ceremony will be held on Saturday for the Hong Kong team by the SAR government and the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.
