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Elite athletes share excitement and values of sport with local youth
inspiring young potential to chase their sporting dreams

Hong Kong elite athletes continue to demonstrate outstanding performance at home and abroad, inspiring their fellow citizens with their resilience and commitment to excellence.

In its role as the Government’s elite sport training systems delivery agent, the HKSI has been the cradle of many local sports talents over the past decades. The increased support from the Government effectively attracted young potential athletes to consider a career in sports. However, being an elite athlete requires exceptional perseverance to reach the summit.

To help the public gain a deeper understanding of the inspirational journeys of the city’s elite sportsmen and women, the Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme – funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and organised by the HKSI – hosted its first-ever HKSI SportX Day, offering local students a chance to experience elite training facilities on 3 and 4 May.

Apart from inspiring young participants to engage in more exercise, adopt healthy lifestyles, and enhance their personal development, a new element was introduced to provide local students with the opportunity to experience and learn about the life of elite athletes.

Elite athletes and coaches from karatedo, rowing, rugby sevens and wushu took time from their intensive training to engage with the students. Table tennis athletes Doo Hoi-kem and Wong Chun-ting also joined the HKSI SportX Day to share their heartwarming stories in a special session, inspiring students to set future goals and progress step by step toward success.

A key highlight of the event was a series of unique sports experiences led by the HKSI coaches and attending athletes. In addition to a variety of specialised skills demonstrations and trials, the team interacted with the students by introducing basic elements of their sport and daily training routines. Elite training requires strong self-discipline and focus to be able to achieve success on the international stage. To reach their ultimate goals, elite athletes must learn to coexist with injuries and overcome different challenges on their journey to the podium.

Asian Games gold medallist and rugby sevens player Lee Ka-to said after leading a demonstration session, “The support from the local public at the Hong Kong Sevens every year means so much to my teammates and me. It is a memory that will stay with us for the rest of our lives, so it gives us great pleasure to give back today and hopefully inspire future generations to become elite athletes.”

Wushu athlete Leung Yat-sing, winner of three gold medals at the 4^th World Taijiquan Championships, commented “I am delighted to represent Wushu here at the SportX Day and being able to share with so many youngsters what this sport has offered me. I am grateful for the guidance and advice I have received throughout my career, and I am extremely happy to give back to the community.”

Wong Lok-yiu, 2^nd runner-up in the women’s fours event at the Asian Rowing Championships 2022 & Asian Rowing Junior Championships 2022, appreciated the programme, she said, “Students visiting our training venue at the HKSI enjoyed a unique opportunity to see rowing boats we use for training and competition and understand the process of moving them to the pontoon as part of our training routine. Through this programme, students not only gained new knowledge and skills, but also insight into how one can become an elite athlete.”

Fitness tests and an exclusive HKSI tour were also arranged to enhance the students’ understanding of the vital role of the HKSI and its comprehensive support for local athletes.

The sharing session to wrap up the day by Doo and Wong was inspirational for the participants, as they recounted their experiences competing against the world’s top players. They also shared the emotional highs and lows of their professional journey together, from winning bronze in the mixed doubles event at the 2015 World Championships, to experiencing a quarter-final loss at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, to achieving a record-breaking performance at the Paris Olympics.

Doo Hoi-kem recalled her path to becoming an elite athlete, “Chasing my table tennis dream has been a challenging journey. Injuries left me feeling defeated, but the unwavering support from the HKSI throughout my rehabilitation and return to competition has been invaluable. My coaches helped me set meaningful goals, enhancing both my skills and mental toughness. Now, I’m back on track and ready to aim even higher.”

Wong Chun-ting echoed Doo’s sentiments, “Recovering from defeat and regaining focus is challenging. In most championships, I compete in both singles and doubles, requiring a strong mindset to prepare and recover quickly, ready for the next match. My goal is to always give my best and never give up. I also advise students that goal-setting is crucial for success. For elite athletes, maintaining a clear focus and advancing towards our goals step by step is essential.”

The two-day event engaged nearly 500 primary school students from 20 schools and over 400 secondary students from 17 schools.

About Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and organised by the HKSI, the Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme sets to share the added values of sport with the wider community. It is also designed to increase awareness and raise support for Hong Kong’s elite athletes as they participate in major national, regional and international competitions in the coming three years. The holistic campaign targets every sector of the community and features sustained outreach through a varied programme of school visits, sports club outreach, hosted tours of the HKSI, exhibitions and other community engagement initiatives across Hong Kong.