Homecoming Event Celebrates Sporting Achievements

There was a heartwarming atmosphere of pride and joy on campus on October 28, as the University welcomed home its outstanding student-athletes following their triumphs at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The 30 elite student-athletes who competed across 12 sporting disciplines were greeted and congratulated by HKU President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Xiang Zhang; Professor Bennett Yim, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and International Student Exchange; Dr Michael Tse, Director of Centre for Sports and Exercise; and distinguished guests from the Hong Kong Sports Institute and various sports associations.

“We are immensely proud of our student-athletes, who serve as exceptional role models for our students by demonstrating how to balance the academic with elite sports training,” Professor Zhang said. “In this era of the AI tsunami, the irreplaceable value of a university lies in human-to-human interaction. Sports, sportsmanship, and shared campus experiences are vital human connections that will always remain the pillars of university education. HKU will continue to invest in our sports infrastructure to foster these enduring values, friendship, and resilience.”

The campus gathering was an opportunity to highlight the extraordinary feats achieved on the regional stage. Leading the wave of success was Coleman Wong Chak-lam, who secured a historic first tennis gold medal for Hong Kong. Athletic performance reached new heights on the track as well, where Chow Chi-kiu and Karlsson Jane Christa Ming Suet broke the Hong Kong women’s 4 x 400-meter relay record. The fencing squad also delivered stellar performances, with Ryan Choi Chun-yin earning two silver medals, Fong Hoi-sun securing two bronzes, and Ho Sze-long also taking home a bronze. Maritime events brought further success, with sailors Tiffany Mak Hiu-tung and Emily Grace Polson claiming silver, along with Russell Williams Aylsworth’s bronze. In the triathlon, Bailee Brown and Robin Elg both earned bronze medals. The victories extended to the Asian Para Games, where table tennis players Joelle Wong Yue-ching and Winnie Pang Wing-ka won silver and bronze medals in their respective events.

A central element of the celebration featured an inspiring sharing session where the top performers shared their personal insights and stories with secondary school students. While Coleman Wong Chak-lam described how he balanced his studies and sports in a video recording, fencer Ryan Choi Chun-yin and para table tennis athlete Wong Yue-ching reflected on their journeys, discussing the perseverance required to overcome injuries and physical setbacks during their preparation.

Facing a myriad of challenges along the way, Ryan’s journey has been marked by both exhilarating highs and difficult lows, including injuries that tested his resilience. Despite these hurdles, he remains deeply committed, often returning to the essence of what first drew him to his sport. “I will always try to recall why I started the sport. Everyone starts the sport by loving it. It’s a pure passion,” he said. When he’s discouraged, he calls to mind a pivotal moment when he was ten years old, holding his foil for the first time. “My coach said I was very talented,” he remembers, and that memory continues to motivate him.

Ryan, who is also known for his talents as a singer, was asked how he balances his sports with his other pursuits. “At the beginning, I think I did not balance them so well, so I got injured because I did not get enough rest,” he admitted. “So in the end, I sacrificed a lot of time with my friends,” he added with a wry smile, after realising that he had to prioritise time for his academics, singing career, sports career and his family.

Although Joelle already had some experience competing at the last Asian Para Games, this year’s Games were her first since becoming a full-time athlete. “This means much more to me,” she said. Reflecting on what it was like to face National Team in the Women’s Double Finals, she observed: “The China Table Tennis Team is very good. So I think to be able to meet the China Team, we have already achieved a certain level in our playing.” She also revealed that in her secondary school years, she was often overwhelmed with feelings of insecurity and anxiety about the future. Addressing younger students who might be experiencing the same thoughts, she said: “No need to worry too much about those concerns. Just focus and follow your heart.”

Coleman, Ryan and Joelle expressed gratitude for the supportive environment provided by the University, which enabled them to thrive in their sporting careers while pursuing their degrees.

The student-athletes in this year’s delegation are enrolled in different academic disciplines and were supported through admission pathways such as the Top Athletes Direct Admission Scheme (TADAS) that was launched at the start of the 2022–23 academic year and the HKU Sports Scholarship Scheme (SSS). These programmes provide tailored academic advising, flexible study arrangements, mental health counselling, and elite physical training facilities.

Professor Bennett Yim, who also serves as Chairman of the HKU TADAS Selection and Review Committee, expressed how proud he was of the students who were taking part in these schemes. “HKU strives to create an environment where students can pursue their passions – whether in sports, arts, sciences, or humanities – and emerge as well-rounded individuals ready to contribute meaningfully to society,” he said. “We are dedicated to supporting student-athletes in pursuing dual excellence through flexible academic arrangements, mentorship programmes, and comprehensive support.”