As the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approach, elite HKU student-athletes are set to leave their mark on the regional stage, competing in events such as golf, sailing, swimming, triathlon, fencing, and soccer. United by an unrelenting drive to overcome challenges on land, in the water, and sometimes both, three remarkable student-athletes – golfer Arianna Lau, triathlete Robin Bent Edvin Thomas Elg, and swimmer James Lau – exemplify what it means to lead as modern scholar-athletes. Whether recalibrating in the pool, pushing through miles on the road, or executing precision shots on the fairway, each is preparing to compete at the highest level while embracing the vibrant academic life at HKU.
For history-making golfer Arianna Lau, the road to the 2026 Asian Games has meant testing herself against the world’s best. “Over the past year, in addition to further improving my technique, tournament strategy, physical fitness, and mental game, I deliberately selected the world’s highest-level amateur tournaments to compete in,” Arianna explains. “The goal was to train myself specifically under high-pressure conditions against top-tier players, pushing past my own limits while learning from them and addressing my weaknesses.” Her breakthrough resume includes becoming the first Hong Kong player to win the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, securing back-to-back Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Junior Championship titles, reaching the US Women’s Amateur quarterfinals, and making the final cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Navigating the mental demands of elite competition, she relies on deep passion, continuous self-reflection, and regular sessions with a sports psychologist in the Hong Kong Sports Institute. “I love seeing a version of myself that never gives up through both good times and bad, rising again from setbacks and failures,” she says. “My goal is to do my very best to contend for medals in both the women’s individual and team events. I hope to witness my own growth and progress between the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.”
Parallel to her athletic aspirations, this autumn marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as she joins HKU. “After the Asian Games, I will continue representing Hong Kong in various overseas tournaments. However, it will be a very special year. While continuing my full-time athlete training, I will also begin my studies at the University in September as a first-year undergraduate student. I am very excited and look forward to working hard to balance both academics and training. I believe university studies will help me grow into a more mature and well-rounded athlete.”
Arianna views university life as an essential catalyst for intellectual growth and community building. “I look forward to being at HKU, a world-class institution of higher education. I see HKU as a university full of vitality, drive, care, and support,” she says. “I am eager to make new friends and meet the other students admitted through the Top Athletes Direct Admission Scheme. I am keen to become more knowledgeable in the fields I am passionate about and broaden my perspectives. In the future, I also hope to give back to society by sharing my personal journey and inner experiences as an athlete through writing, publishing books, or giving speeches – inspiring and encouraging people from all walks of life.”
For HKU student-athlete Robin Bent Edvin Thomas Elg, preparing for the Asian Games triathlon has meant maintaining an intense 30-hour weekly training load while working through an unexpected nine-month shin stress reaction. “It genuinely takes years of consistent training to be eligible to represent Hong Kong at the Asian Games,” Robin says. Despite having to train solo in Hong Kong while teammates held overseas camps, his commitment remains steadfast: “Ultimately, I learn that the feeling of showing up and sticking to my plan far outweighs the stress, and helps me overcome the setback.”
For Robin, true success lies in perseverance rather than podiums alone. “My biggest achievement is not necessarily about the results, even though it’s what I train for. It’s mainly about overcoming the harder times and continuing despite people’s scepticism,” he says. Keeping pre-race stress at bay through rest, nutrition, and visualisation, he is focussed on delivering when it counts: “I will make sure to be as fit as possible when race day comes. Ultimately, I want to give my best and try to contribute to Hong Kong’s medal tally.”
Off the course, Robin applies that exact same discipline to his university life at HKU. Navigating a demanding curriculum alongside a 30-hour weekly training load demands meticulous organisation and constant communication.
“Balancing academics and athletics has not always been easy, but I’ve been lucky to have supportive teachers and the backing of the Hong Kong Sports Institute,” he explains. “Open communication, good planning, and staying organised have been key. I’ve learned to manage my time carefully, stay on top of deadlines, and make the most of the time available. Those experiences have helped me grow both as a student and as an athlete.”
With a grounded perspective and a deep appreciation for those around him, he adds, “I always want to give back. Representing Hong Kong at the Asian Games is truly an amazing thing to experience and this makes me look forward to giving it everything on race day. Looking back at all the setbacks and the moments where I doubted my capabilities of performing well in the triathlon, I have learnt that having a supportive environment and people who lift you up when you hit the bottom is critical and I wouldn’t be where I am today without that.”
In competitive swimming, James Lau has made his mark as one of Hong Kong’s top record-holders across diverse events. “I have been preparing since the last Asian Games back in 2023,” James notes, maintaining 10 weekly sessions that start as early as 5:00am. “I would say my biggest achievement is having the most Hong Kong Age Group and Junior Records combined. I regard this as one of my proudest achievements as not many people have many records across different strokes and disciplines.”
To maintain his competitive edge, James overcame a two-year training bottleneck by revamping his mindset and training drills with his coach and peers. Using race visualisation to centre himself under pressure, he approaches the Games with clear targets: “On a competitive level, I hope to be able to reach the finals of the Asian Games in the 200m Butterfly,” he explains. “However, on a more personal level, I hope to meet more competitive athletes through this high level of competition and learn more about people from different countries and cultures.”
In joining HKU this September as an undergraduate, James is ready to channel that same dedication into his studies and campus life. He recognises that transitioning into a university student as an elite athlete requires proactive time management and an interest in getting to know an unfamiliar community.
“I think a core part of university life is to make new connections and friends,” James says. “I look forward to meeting people and interacting with people of different backgrounds and cultures. To balance my academics and athletics, I think adequate communication with my professors is very important. I plan to make schedules about my studies and to plan ahead so that I will not fall behind even when training takes a lot of my time.”
