Athletes honoured for historic Asian Games performance

Hong Kong's top-performing athletes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan were praised by Chief Executive John Lee on Monday for their remarkable achievements. The Special Administrative Region (SAR) achieved its best result to date, securing new highs in both gold medal count and total medals won. The delegation emerged victorious with 54 medals, consisting of 11 gold, 19 silver, and 24 bronze.

During a commendation ceremony, Lee acknowledged the athletes' unwavering dedication, even when facing injuries and setbacks, expressing deep respect for their efforts. He presented certificates to exceptional performers, including wushu star Lydia Sham, who became the city's first gold medalist at the Games. Lee emphasized that the government would continue investing in sports development.

Over the 2026-27 financial year, the government's resources allocated to sports development amounted to approximately HK$8.1 billion, marking a substantial 70% increase compared to a decade ago. An additional HK$1 billion was earmarked for the Hong Kong Sports Institute, providing extensive training, financial support, and assistance in sports medicine and science.

The government's commitment to supporting athlete training and career development was further highlighted, with resources for sports development set to rise by 20% over the next five years. Notable attendees of the ceremony included Chief Secretary Eric Chan, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, and Timothy Fok, President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.