Discipline and passion – both are essential qualities in the quest to be the best, whether in academia or athletics. At least, that’s what our HKU student-athletes think, as they prepare for the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China this November.
The Games are held once every four years and are the country’s highest-level national multi-sports event. The 15th National Games will be the first time that the competition will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and we are delighted that 36 HKU student-athletes will be competing in 14 events, including fencing, swimming, athletics, triathlon and badminton. Among them are tennis player Coleman Wong Chak-lam, who recently achieved remarkable results at the US Open; fencer Ryan Choi Chun-yin, who clinched the gold medal in the Men’s Foil Individual event at the 2025 Fencing World Championships; and badminton player Tse Ying-suet, who secured her first title at the 2025 Badminton Asian Championships, winning the gold medal in mixed doubles.
In the lead up to the Games, we had a chance to catch up with a few student-athletes – Fong Hoi-sun, Aaron Ho Sze-long, Alton Kwok Chun-ting and Chloe Pak Hoi-man who joined HKU through the Top Athletes Direct Admissions Scheme, and Summer Fay Sit who was admitted via the Sports Scholarship Scheme – and get a glimpse into the lives of these medal hopefuls.
There are some consistent features in their routines: discipline is a constant refrain – they show up as scheduled, come rain or shine, to do what they have to do. But although they all train almost every day, there is a strategy behind the willpower. Chloe and Alton, who compete in Athletics, use a mix of training and rest days to make the most of their sessions to boost not just their strength, speed and endurance, but also their technique and recovery rate. While rest is definitely important for the body to return to form and grow stronger, there are times when it takes longer than expected. “It can be difficult to get back into the best physical condition and train again after having a well-rested break, but I feel my body is getting back to normal,” says Summer, who is a competitive Sabre fencer.
Sometimes, the challenges can be notably more daunting, such as with setbacks that come from injuries, Chloe recalls. “I was unable to train for a month due to an ankle injury this year. It was really hard to maintain my physical condition during rehab, but this process has taught me that it’s important to be patient and not rush the recovery process.”
For Hoi-sun, a fencer who won a bronze medal in the Men’s Epee Individual at the 13th National Games in 2017, the biggest challenge is maintaining a good mental and physical state. He added: “Training is getting more intense as the competition approaches, so it’s very difficult to maintain a good balance in both body and mind.”
Despite the pressures they face as student-athletes, there are also, of course, the other challenges that they share with every university student. Alton notes that having good time management skills and preparing a schedule for every week are key. Summer agrees. “When I’m travelling for competitions, I make sure to mark down upcoming deadlines on my calendar app to ensure I don’t miss my assignments,” she says. “It’s also important to be in contact with my teachers and coaches at all times to ensure that both parties can accommodate my needs.”
Our students understand that this exceptional level of time management and diligence may come at a cost. “This kind of commitment sometimes involves sacrifices, like less time for rest and social activities,” says Chloe. “But it’s worth it to pursue my goals.” And a sense of urgency also comes through, a feeling that they should take advantage of their physical abilities while they are at their peak: “Athletes have a limited lifespan, but I can be a student at any age,” observes Aaron, who is a fencer.
For the moment, all five students are focussed on achieving their personal best at the upcoming National Games. For some, it’s the realisation of a lifelong dream: “Since I was a young child, I have always wanted to compete and perform at the highest possible level,” says Aaron. But they also are looking forward to enjoying the opportunities the event will bring. “Beyond the results, I’m excited to learn from our top-tier Chinese Mainland competitors and treasure this opportunity to grow as an athlete,” Chloe notes. And they’re all thinking beyond these Games as well, hoping to achieve even bigger goals, like qualifying for the Asian Games next year, the 2028 Olympics and winning more international medals.
As these talented student-athletes gear up for the National Games, their commitment to excellence and resilience inspires us all. We look forward to their performances at the Games and further outstanding achievements from them in the future.
