Get more with myNEWS

A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you

Learn more

In this issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at events at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, which included a series of firsts, including esports making its debut as a medal event. Photo: Kyodo

Economy

Global Impact: China delivers at home Asian Games, Hong Kong also shines

Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world
In this issue, we look back at events at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, which included a series of firsts, including esports making its debut as a medal event

Asian Games 2023

Josh Ball

Published: 2:00pm, 9 Oct 2023

Why you can trust SCMP

Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world. Sign up now!

The curtain will come down on the Asian Games on Sunday, bringing an end to what has been the most successful event for Hong Kong’s athletes, at the biggest regional gathering of athletes in history.

Nearly 12,000 competitors, more than will take part in next summer’s Olympics in Paris, and as many technical officials, media, support staff and others descended on Hangzhou, and by the time the final gold is awarded in karate, some 490 will have been won, more than 180 of them by the hosts.

Hong Kong’s total of 53 medals of varying colours looks minuscule by comparison, but then that is the same for most nations and territories when competing with China, and it is comfortably more than the previous best of 46 accumulated in Jakarta five years ago.

02:32

China’s Xi Jinping opens Asian Games with calls for solidarity and inclusiveness through sports

A slew of firsts have marked the achievements of the city’s athletes at the 19th Asiad; first gold medals in women’s swimming from the indefatigable Siobhan Haughey, first gold in women’s road cycling courtesy of the retiring Yang Qianyu, whose story of sacrifice is just as impressive as her athletic endeavours, first medals in golf, a gold for Taichi Kho and bronze for his teammates in the men’s competition.

Hong Kong’s men’s football team also reached the semi-finals for the first time. Previously, the furthest a side had gone was the last eight, and that was at the 1958 Games in Tokyo.

If progress is partly measured by medals, then so too is regression, and while the Hong Kong delegation can be rightly proud of its achievements, some sports risk being left behind altogether.

By their own admission, the triathletes were surviving rather than thriving as Japan won every gold available, while Angus Ng Ka-long’s insistence he had “no regrets” after being knocked out in the first round of the men’s badminton raises serious questions over his attitude.

According to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong has spent some HK$7.4 billion (US$945 million) over the past decade on its Sports Institute, and the time is coming for some chits to be called in.

In track and field, Tiffany Yue’s bronze in women’s long jump was the first non-running medal ever, and there is precious little evidence the city’s sprinters or hurdlers will trouble their rivals any time soon. Meanwhile a 36-year-old gymnast is still living on glories so far in the past they are as ancient as she is in sporting terms.

Having removed the iron rice bowl from the vice-like grip of the civil service, those holding the purse strings might turn their attention to the money pits that are some of the city’s sports associations. Retirement should be a privilege reserved for those who have served with distinction, such as cyclist Leung Chun-wing, it might be time to show the door to some others.

Progress has been a theme running through the most technologically advanced Games ever; from a visually stunning opening ceremony that married the human and virtual, to Alibaba’s cloud supporting its smooth running, driverless busses, cashless venues and mosquito-zapping robots, it would be almost unrecognisable to someone from 20 years ago, let alone from 1950, when the Games first took place.

That goes for sports as well, although the very definition appears to have been stretched to breaking point. Chess, bridge, Go and esports now inhabit a so-called mind sports category.

Fittingly, in China’s unofficial Silicon Valley, the last of those four made its debut as a medal event, despite the complicated relationship between the mainland and gaming.

The hosts winning gold in Dream Three Kingdoms 2, a game created in Hangzhou, could yet change the dynamic again.

Hong Kong took silver, another first, and official Eric Leung has urged the city’s government to embrace the economic possibilities the industry may represent.

Not all progress is good, obviously, and often brings its own challenges. Hong Kong’s athletes have raised the bar, meaning this can only be the most successful Games ever, until the next time.

60-Second Catch-up

Pop music played at Asian Games shows host China singing a new tune to rally young people

China bags over half the gold medals at esports events even as Beijing maintains its harsh policies over video gaming

China win first esports gold medal in Hangzhou playing Tencent’s Arena of Valor

Hong Kong’s Tiffany Yue takes leap into city’s record books to seal long jump bronze

Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka-long has ‘no regrets’ despite early exit in men’s badminton

Hong Kong football boss upbeat despite defeat as Japan ease into final

Taichi Kho hails ‘really special’ day after Hong Kong golfers claim historic medals in Hangzhou

Hong Kong’s golden girl Siobhan Haughey ‘honoured’ to keep winning for her city

Deep dives

Hong Kong chess prodigy, 14, skips year of school for Asian Games dream

Jamison Kao turns an after-school activity into pursuing his dream of playing against the region’s best at the Asian Games
Father tips the Hong Kong International School eight-grade student to become the top junior in Asia ‘if he works very hard’

Imagine turning an after-school activity into a true profession – one that would pit you against the regional best at the Asian Games.

Just ask Jamison Kao, the 14-year-old chess prodigy from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong can build industry on back of Asian Games esports silver, official says

China win encounter in Hangzhou 2-0 in little more than 80 minutes for country’s second esports title
City’s esports association founder Eric Yeung hails result as a ‘breakthrough moment’

While the pupils are not yet ready to become the masters, Hong Kong’s esports athletes took another big step forwards in their development at the Asian Games on Saturday, winning a silver medal in Hangzhou.

A podium finish on its own was a special achievement for the city’s competitors with the discipline being recognised as an official event for the first time, meaning it took Hong Kong’s overall medal haul to 38.

Hong Kong cyclist Leung to step into coaching role after Asian Games race

‘It’s time for me to step aside and let the youngsters take over,’ Leung says after finishing men’s road race in 29th place
Leung Chun-wing warns athletes not to get ahead of themselves after winning six medals in Hangzhou

After what was likely to have been the last race of an illustrious career, decorated Hong Kong cyclist Leung Chun-wing turned his attention to his next job as the team’s coach.

The former Asian Games gold medallist finished well down the field in 29th in the men’s road race on Thursday, crossing the line in four hours, 32 minutes and 59 seconds, nearly eight minutes behind Kazakhstan’s Yevgeiny Fedorov and Alexy Lutsenko, who crossed holding hands in 4:25:29.

Hongkongers don’t need foreign coaches to win, Yue says after long jump bronze

‘I really wanted to prove to everyone that a Hong Kong athlete and a Hong Kong coach can get great results,’ Yue says
Her city-record leap saw her claim the city’s first Asian Games medal in athletics that did not come on the track

Hong Kong’s Tiffany Yue Nga-yan said her bronze medal success in the women’s long jump at the Asian Games proved the city did not need foreign coaches for its athletes to succeed.

Yue put down a personal best, and new city record of 6.50 metres, to finish third in the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium on Monday, and then took a swipe at former coach Rolf Ohman, from Sweden.

Hong Kong’s Kho aims to sustain golden glow after Hangzhou golf triumph

Kho leaves Hangzhou for International Series event in Singapore, mindful of the dip in form that followed his previous milestone success
Fresh from his Asian Games gold and bronze, he has a shot at finishing inside the top 32, bringing an opportunity to compete in LIV Golf promotions

Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung get back to the day job this week, still riding high from their historic medal-winning performances at the Asian Games.

In the field for the International Series event in Singapore, refocusing is likely to take some doing for the two Hong Kong golfers.

Cyclist Yang to retire, care for sick parents after Asian Games gold

The 30-year-old cyclist closes out career with surprise gold medal in Hangzhou road race, after silver in Madison and bronze in team pursuit
Yang, whose father suffered a stroke and mother fell ill in 2021, says ‘I don’t have any more energy for more competitions’

Hong Kong veteran cyclist Yang Qianyu is set to retire on a high note after storming to an unexpected Asian Games gold in the women’s road race on Wednesday.

Just days after winning a team pursuit bronze and a silver in the Madison on the track, the 30-year-old clinched a historic gold in what was her final Games appearance, and potentially the final race of her career.

Asian Games: Hong Kong goalkeeper says government does not value football

In beating Iran in the quarterfinals Hong Kong make history by reaching the semi-finals for the first time
‘Hong Kong football has its value, but we need to know how to appreciate this value,’ Tse Ka-wing says

Goalkeeper Tse Ka-wing said Hong Kong must start to value football as a sport and not waste his team’s impressive performances at the Asian Games.

Outstanding between the posts, Tse and a disciplined defence have kept clean sheets in the past two matches against Palestine and Iran.

Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world.

Post