Kho Taichi (left) of Hong Kong, China Team celebrates with his gold medal during the award ceremony after the men's individual golf competition in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 1, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong golfer Kho Taichi claimed his first gold medal in the men’s individual competition at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, bringing the city its sixth gold and the Hong Kong golf team’s first-ever golf medal at Asiad.

This year marks Kho’s first appearance at the Asian Games. The 22-year-old player performed steadily in Sunday’s final golf competition and managed to edge out South Korean golfer Im Sung-jae, and finished by a shot at a total of 27 under par.

After winning the match, Kho said the medals were unexpected and the joy of winning two medals is beyond description. 

Kho Taichi of Hong Kong, China Team swings during the men's individual golf competition in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 1, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong has many talented young golfers and the triumph at Asiad will certainly help the game’s development in the city, Kho said. 

Kho said he will compete in Singapore next week, adding that he hopes that he can attend the Paris Olympics next year. As for the men’s team competition, Hong Kong and the Thailand had a highly intensive competition, with both teams taking the lead several times. 

After officials calculated the overall scores of the four players, Kho, Jason Hak Shun-yat, Matthew Cheung Hung-hai and Terrence Ng Shing-fung, Hong Kong ranked third with a total score of 50 under par, clinching the bronze medal. South Korea secured the gold medal, while Thailand took home the silver.

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(From left to right) Hong Kong, China Men’s Golf Team members Terrence Ng Shing-fung, Kho Taichi, Matthew Cheung Hung-hai, and Jason Hak Shun-yat pose with their bronze medals during an award ceremony after the men's team golf competition at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Oct 1, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong golf team has never won a medal at the Asian Games before, but this time, Koh clinched the gold medal in the individual event and also won a bronze medal in the men's team event, making two historic milestones for Hong Kong golf. 

This is not the first time Kho made history for Hong Kong golf. In March, he became the first Hong Kong golfer to get a World City Championship. 

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, congratulated Kho on winning the gold. “We are grateful for that,” Yeung said.

The Hong Kong, China Delegation has so far won 40 medals, with six gold, 15 silver and 19 bronze at this Asian Games, ranking fifth in the medal tally.