No medal pressure for SAR athletes: Law

The Hong Kong government's Sports Minister, Rosanna Law, has clarified that she will not set a public medal target for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Minister Law emphasized that athletes already endure significant pressure and that discussing medal predictions could distract them from performing at their best. She explained that her primary concern is athletes giving their all and striving for personal improvement.

The SAR (Special Administrative Region) spirit, as embodied by Hong Kong athletes, is what she looks forward to witnessing. To support the SAR delegation, the government has increased its financial commitment for the Asian Games. While traditionally covering around 90 percent of travel and participation costs, the city is now providing full funding for the 580-member delegation.

Law believes this financial boost will enable athletes to hone their skills through international competition. The delegation has already achieved notable results, including a silver medal in men's foil fencing, a win and a runner-up finish in men's badminton singles, and a gold medal for the men's rugby sevens team in Suzhou. Law highlighted other strong performances in golf and swimming, expressing confidence in the athletes' self-belief.

The government plans to review team sports support early next year, examining factors such as development pathways, medical support, facility allocation, and coaching quality. Currently, eight team sports receive government funding, and the minister indicated a readiness to add more teams and stretch existing resources to broaden support.

Regarding tennis and snooker, both currently ranked as Tier A sports, Law assured that the government would maintain flexible backing, provided that results and junior development remain promising.