https://www.scmp.com/rss/47492/feed Hong Kong and international sports news, comment and opinion. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Josh Ball Josh Ball Most of Sunday’s athletics events at the Asian Games were seen by many as background noise to the women’s javelin clash between China sensation Yan Ziyi and Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi, although don’t dare suggest that to Singapore’s Shanti Pereira. While the much-anticipated throwing competition was ultimately as damp as the rain that blanketed Nagoya for much of the day, Pereira’s breathless victory in the women’s 200m was everything sprinting is supposed to be. The 30-year-old’s successful... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368973/pereira-makes-history-stunning-200m-victory-yan-blows-away-field-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368973/pereira-makes-history-stunning-200m-victory-yan-blows-away-field-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:42:39 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport China’s Wang Manyu beat compatriot and defending champion Sun Yingsha in the women’s singles final at the Asian Games on Sunday to cement her position as the sport’s new table tennis queen. Wang’s win came days after she displaced Sun at the top of the world rankings. China also enjoyed success in the men’s doubles final, with Huang Youzheng and Lin Shidong beating Japan’s Harimoto Tomokazu and Shinozuka Hiroto 4-2. Wang reclaimed the title she last won at the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368966/chinas-wang-manyu-beats-sun-yingsha-womens-singles-table-tennis-final-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368966/chinas-wang-manyu-beats-sun-yingsha-womens-singles-table-tennis-final-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:52:38 +0000 Stephy Zhang,Agence France-Presse Stephy Zhang,Agence France-Presse China’s 15-year-old Zhu Yuanling won gold in the women’s street skateboarding competition at the Asian Games on Sunday, the latest in a series of young winners at this edition of the continental multi-sport event. Zhu’s win came a day after Japanese primary school student Yuki Kurihara, 11, demolished opponents three times his age on the way to a historic gold in esports. Earlier in the Games, Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, 13, became one of the faces of the event with three golds, all in record... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368950/chinas-zhu-yuanling-wins-street-skateboarding-just-latest-teen-winner-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368950/chinas-zhu-yuanling-wins-street-skateboarding-just-latest-teen-winner-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:00:16 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball The honour of winning Hong Kong’s fifth gold medal of the Asian Games fell to squash pair Lee Ka-yi and Tang Ming-hong on Sunday, and while it did not come with a place at the Los Angeles Olympics, it left the former feeling “amazing” and her partner “completely empty”. There was silver too, of course, with the final at Nagoya Kinjo-Futo Arena a clash against close friends and Hong Kong teammates Toby Tse Yee-lam and Lai Cheuk-nam. Another fencing bronze was added to the city’s growing tally,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368930/asian-games-day-8-hong-kong-squash-gold-fencers-mix-battle-royale-javelin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368930/asian-games-day-8-hong-kong-squash-gold-fencers-mix-battle-royale-javelin?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 04:34:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea’s weightlifters will flex their considerable collective muscle when they return to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years at Los Angeles in 2028 – and they could be in for an American gold rush if the Asian Games are any indication. The secretive nation has been the dominant force in global weightlifting since emerging from self-imposed Covid exile to smash six world records at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. They also won six golds. At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368893/north-koreas-weightlifters-target-olympic-gold-rush-after-world-record-haul-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368893/north-koreas-weightlifters-target-olympic-gold-rush-after-world-record-haul-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:30:06 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball The battle for mixed doubles gold in squash will be an all-Hong Kong affair at the Asian Games on Sunday, after the city’s duos both won their semi-finals on a day when the city’s athletes picked up another three bronze medals and some semblance of normality returned to table tennis. With swimming finally over at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, it was the turn of the divers to take centre stage, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, China won the two gold medals on offer on Saturday, the first of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368892/asian-games-day-7-hong-kong-pairs-mixed-doubles-squash-final-china-dominate-diving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368892/asian-games-day-7-hong-kong-pairs-mixed-doubles-squash-final-china-dominate-diving?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 07:28:53 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japan’s 11-year-old esports prodigy Yuki Kurihara said he was “embarrassed” after winning Asian Games gold on Saturday by thrashing a series of opponents up to three times his age. The bespectacled primary school student, believed to be the youngest competitor at the Games in Aichi-Nagoya, won the Puyo Puyo Champions final 10-2. He is the youngest athlete in host country Japan’s Asian Games history. Puyo Puyo Champions is a puzzle game where players try to clear their screen of coloured blobs by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368890/japan-esports-whizz-kid-feels-bit-embarrassed-after-winning-asian-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368890/japan-esports-whizz-kid-feels-bit-embarrassed-after-winning-asian-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 06:24:53 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games may only be halfway through, but the swimmers checked out of the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Friday. An extended rest was probably too much of a luxury for most of them with the Swimming World Cup just around the corner. A trio of three-day meets in Baku, Tashkent and Astana from the start of next month will also act as qualifiers for the short course World Aquatics Swimming Championships, which run in Beijing from December 1 to 6. Four swimmers, two each from Japan and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368856/improved-zhang-zhanshuo-rising-yu-zidi-headline-chinas-swimming-hopes-2028-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368856/improved-zhang-zhanshuo-rising-yu-zidi-headline-chinas-swimming-hopes-2028-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Reuters,Associated Press Reuters,Associated Press ⁠Teenage juggernaut Zhang Zhanshuo became the first swimmer to win seven gold medals at an Asian Games on the final night at the Tokyo pool on Friday, when China cemented their superpower status. Sitting on a lane divider, the 19-year-old Zhang counted out the golds with his fingers to mark the moment after cruising to the 400 metres freestyle title in a Games record of three minutes, 41.28 seconds, ‌with Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku a distant runner-up. Having already won the 200m, 400m and 1,500m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368842/chinese-teen-titan-zhang-zhanshuo-counts-out-golds-after-magnificent-7-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368842/chinese-teen-titan-zhang-zhanshuo-counts-out-golds-after-magnificent-7-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse After 28 years and 50,000 kilometres (31,000 miles), a British adventurer is facing one last hurdle in his bid to trek home from South America without using any form of transport: the Channel. “We thought we got permission to swim from the coast of France. Turned out that is not the case,” Karl Bushby, a former paratrooper, said as he walked towards Cap Blanc-Nez in northern France, within sight of the white cliffs of the English coast. “There was some internal confusion. So, right now we’re... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368783/after-50000km-british-around-world-walker-faces-final-hurdle-his-home-doorstep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368783/after-50000km-british-around-world-walker-faces-final-hurdle-his-home-doorstep?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Showing that age is not a constraint, 51-year-old Uzbekistan gymnast Oksana Chusovitina capped off her seventh Asian Games appearance with a fifth-place finish – 32 years after her first appearance at the regional event. Competing against athletes young enough to be her daughter, Chusovitina – who made her bow at the 1994 Hiroshima Games – more than held her own in the women’s vault artistic gymnastics final. Among the 19 athletes competing in the women’s vault on Thursday, 12 were under 21... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368766/uzbekistan-gymnast-oksana-chusovitina-51-defies-years-asian-games-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368766/uzbekistan-gymnast-oksana-chusovitina-51-defies-years-asian-games-final?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 07:00:14 +0000 Josh Ball,Mike Chan Josh Ball,Mike Chan Hong Kong’s men had to settle for silver in the team at the Asian Games on Friday, where there was a rare bronze in gymnastics and the city’s swimmer gave us a glimpse of what life will be like without Siobhan Haughey. With squash returning to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, both of the city’s mixed doubles pairs secured a bronze and will have the chance to go at least one better in the semi-finals on Saturday. There was bronze too in the esports Fighting Games category, although table... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368767/asian-games-day-6-hong-kongs-fencers-squash-players-out-turn-bronze-silver-or-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368767/asian-games-day-6-hong-kongs-fencers-squash-players-out-turn-bronze-silver-or-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 05:45:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse China’s 13-year-old swimming prodigy Yu Zidi has stamped her mark all over the Asian Games and she could cause a sensation at the Los Angeles Olympics in two years’ time. The schoolgirl won all three individual races she swam this week in Tokyo with Asian Games records – a series of performances that belied her tender age. Out of the pool, she has proved herself to be a typical teenager, joking around with teammates and freezing when asked about herself in interviews. She will be 15 when the LA... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368670/chinese-teen-swim-sensation-yu-zidi-set-olympic-stardom-after-golden-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368670/chinese-teen-swim-sensation-yu-zidi-set-olympic-stardom-after-golden-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:33 +0000 Josh Ball,Mike Chan Josh Ball,Mike Chan Rower Chiu Hin-chun grabbed the gold he needed to complete his set of Asian Games medals, Siobhan Haughey won her fourth of the week, and there was a wushu first as Hong Kong’s athletes had a Thursday to remember in Japan. Chiu’s triumph in the lightweight men’s singles sculls was one of four medals the city’s rowers brought home in Nagoya and Tokyo. Winne Hung Wing-yan took silver in the women’s lightweight single sculls, while there was bronze for women’s pair Cheung Yuen-shan and Leung... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368702/hong-kong-have-day-remember-siobhan-haughey-wins-fourth-medal-final-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368702/hong-kong-have-day-remember-siobhan-haughey-wins-fourth-medal-final-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:13:28 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Japan’s men pulled off a stunning upset at the Asian Games on Thursday, beating China to claim table tennis team gold in front of a raucous home crowd. With the sides tied at 2-2 following a back and forth tussle, Sora Matsushima won the decisive match, downing Wen Ruibo 3-1 at Sky Hall Toyota. Matsushima recovered from just losing the opening encounter to Wang Chuqin, who laboured his way to a 3-2 victory, but was overpowered 3-0 by an inspired Tomokazu Harimoto, who set up the thrilling finale... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368691/japan-men-stun-china-claim-asian-games-table-tennis-team-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368691/japan-men-stun-china-claim-asian-games-table-tennis-team-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:49:59 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang South Korean former short-track speedskater Kim Gun-woo has moved quickly to reassure fans that he is alive and well, and that news of his death had been greatly exaggerated. An obituary had appeared on the 28-year-old’s Instagram account, spreading dismay and panic among supporters. However, it soon became apparent that the star’s account had been hacked and the fake news posted without his knowledge. In the early hours of Wednesday, a Korean-language obituary written from the perspective of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368622/south-korean-ex-skater-tells-fans-he-alive-and-well-looking-false-report-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368622/south-korean-ex-skater-tells-fans-he-alive-and-well-looking-false-report-death?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Chiu Hin-chun completed his set of Asian Games medals on Thursday, winning gold for the first time in the lightweight men’s single sculls final. The Hongkonger was tracking second for the first half of the 2,000m race, trailing just 0.63 seconds behind leader Firdavs Akhunov of Uzbekistan. But the 32-year-old managed to hold on and took the lead with 500m to go, before crossing the line first in six minutes and 50.32 seconds. Akhunov could not maintain his pace and dropped out of the medal... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368616/asian-games-day-5-rowing-gold-completes-medal-collection-hong-kongs-chiu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368616/asian-games-day-5-rowing-gold-completes-medal-collection-hong-kongs-chiu?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:41:06 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball With minimal razzmatazz, an absence of semi-clad women carrying boards, or childish pre-fight hype, little evidence of claret on canvas and certainly no cages, this is not the MMA you know – and that is exactly the way officials want it. The sport made its debut at the Asian Games this week, an important step in a journey it hopes will lead to inclusion in other continental multi-sport events and eventually a place on the biggest stage of all, ideally at the Brisbane Olympics in 2032 if all goes... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368605/mma-makes-its-debut-asian-games-it-fighting-losing-battle-recognition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368605/mma-makes-its-debut-asian-games-it-fighting-losing-battle-recognition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 05:09:04 +0000 Josh Ball,Mike Chan Josh Ball,Mike Chan Teen sensation Shin Ohashi laid down a marker for swimming’s best, powering to Asian Games 200m breaststroke gold in a world record time on Thursday. The 17-year-old Japanese swimmer came home in a time of two minutes, 04.83 seconds, shattering the previous best of 2:05.48 set by China’s Qin Haiyang in 2023. Kyrgyzstan’s Denis Petrashov took silver in 2:08.67, while the bronze medal went to South Korea’s Cho Sung-jae, who finished in 2:08.76. Moments earlier, Siobhan Haughey won her second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368578/asian-games-day-5-hung-gives-hong-kong-silver-start-haughey-chases-third-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368578/asian-games-day-5-hung-gives-hong-kong-silver-start-haughey-chases-third-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:54:05 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Three years is a long time in sport, and all athletes have to deal with ups and downs, but few have quite experienced the challenge that emerging Chinese swimmer Yu Yiting has had to face: the sudden, if not entirely unexpected, rise of her teenage compatriot Yu Zidi. But despite facing some serious challenges from the much younger swimmer, Yu Yiting rediscovered her form just before the Asian Games and took her medal tally in Japan to four on Wednesday, storming back from behind at the turn to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368534/yu-yiting-overcomes-form-dip-and-rise-yu-zidi-defend-her-asian-games-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368534/yu-yiting-overcomes-form-dip-and-rise-yu-zidi-defend-her-asian-games-title?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Table tennis fans had a unique experience watching star duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha beat their Uzbekistan opponents in the Asian Games, after state media used three smartphones to stream the match live to viewers back in China. The reason for the extraordinary measure? Out of nine competition tables, organisers of the Asian Games equipped only Tables 1 and 2 with broadcast cameras, leaving the rest without live coverage. Wang and Sun played on Table 4 at Sky Hall Toyota arena on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368531/no-broadcast-no-problem-chinese-media-uses-smartphones-stream-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368531/no-broadcast-no-problem-chinese-media-uses-smartphones-stream-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 13:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea’s Ri Song-gum set three world records to give her country their first gold in weightlifting at the Asian Games on Wednesday, while South Korea’s badminton world No 1 An Se-young had stern words for her watching father. Ri set the world records in the women’s 49kg class in Nagoya, joining an elite club of just four weightlifters who have won three Asian Games gold medals. The reigning two-time world champion added to her Asian Games golds in Jakarta in 2018 in the 48kg class and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368487/asian-games-weightlifter-ri-sets-3-world-records-win-north-koreas-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368487/asian-games-weightlifter-ri-sets-3-world-records-win-north-koreas-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hong Kong’s Natalie Kan Cheuk-tung beat her personal best time twice in a single day and broke a Hong Kong record set by Siobhan Haughey on her way to bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly at the Asian Games on Wednesday. The 24-year-old touched the wall in 58.05 seconds to finish third behind China’s Yu Yiting and Zhang Yufei, eclipsing Haughey’s previous city mark of 58.12 seconds set in 2023. China’s Yu and Zhang captured gold and silver with times of 56.41 and 56.44, respectively. Kan had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368518/hong-kongs-natalie-kan-really-surprised-win-bronze-100m-butterfly-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368518/hong-kongs-natalie-kan-really-surprised-win-bronze-100m-butterfly-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:46:04 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hong Kong wushu athlete Lydia Sham Hui-yu said a gruelling training schedule allowed her to deliver on an Asian Games gold medal pledge she made to her idol, Exo boy band member Kai. On Tuesday, after winning the women’s changquan event to secure Hong Kong’s first gold of the Asian Games, the 26-year-old posted a video on social media sharing the medal ceremony and tagging the official accounts of South Korean boy band Exo and Kai. “I kept the promise I made to Kim Jong-in [Kai] at the fan sign... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368477/hong-kongs-lydia-sham-delivers-golden-asian-games-promise-exo-member-kai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368477/hong-kongs-lydia-sham-delivers-golden-asian-games-promise-exo-member-kai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:18:27 +0000 Josh Ball,Mike Chan Josh Ball,Mike Chan Hong Kong karate veteran Tsang Yee-ting finally stepped onto an Asian Games podium on Wednesday, taking silver in the women’s 50kg kumite final, and adding another medal to the city’s growing tally. There was success in the swimming pool too, with Natalie Kan Cheuk-tung taking bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly, while earlier, the men had won bronze in the team kata. In wushu, Leung Yu-hong beat Bintang Reindra Nada Guitara of Indonesia 2-1 to reach the men’s 60kg final, where he will face off... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368467/asian-games-day-4-china-pair-seal-racewalking-golds-kata-bronze-hong-kongs-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368467/asian-games-day-4-china-pair-seal-racewalking-golds-kata-bronze-hong-kongs-men?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:42:54 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Siobhan Haughey may have cemented her place as Hong Kong’s best athlete ever after capturing yet another Asian Games gold medal on Tuesday. Touching the wall first in 52.45 seconds – ahead of a pack of swimmers at least three years younger – to defend her women’s 100m freestyle title successfully pushed Haughey’s gold medal count at the regional multi-sports bonanza to four, after she also retained the 200m freestyle crown she won in Hangzhou the previous day. From showcasing to the world her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368425/siobhan-haughey-stakes-claim-hong-kongs-greatest-athlete-after-fourth-asian-games-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368425/siobhan-haughey-stakes-claim-hong-kongs-greatest-athlete-after-fourth-asian-games-title?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Plagued by controversy ranging from athlete accommodation and dining complaints to severe operational blunders including misrecorded scores and incorrect national anthems, Asian Games host Japan has faced criticism for deflecting blame onto delegations and foreign contractors rather than addressing its own shortcomings. And now some in the country are worried they could be landed with the label of hosting the “worst Asian Games ever”. On Tuesday, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368410/japan-fears-hosting-worst-asian-games-ever-blames-french-firm-organisational-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368410/japan-fears-hosting-worst-asian-games-ever-blames-french-firm-organisational-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:00:14 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Pan Zhanle admitted he had a “fire burning inside” during his successful title defence of the men’s 100m freestyle at the Asian Games. Motivated by a rival’s claim that he was not unbeatable, the 22-year-old “controlled his anger” to overturn two South Korean swimmers in the final 10 metres to snatch gold. A day later on Monday, swimming the third leg in a team with Xu Haibo, Fei Liwei and Zhang Zhanshuo, he led China to its first men’s 4x200m freestyle relay Asian Games gold in 16 years,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368372/asian-games-pan-zhanle-says-fire-inside-fuels-his-successful-100m-freestyle-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368372/asian-games-pan-zhanle-says-fire-inside-fuels-his-successful-100m-freestyle-title-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:00:19 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Hong Kong’s Ryan Choi Chun-yin came with a whisker of winning Asian Games gold on Tuesday, and said after suffering a losing run in mahjong he felt his luck had been about to change. The 28-year-old former world champion had dominated for much of the day, and even when behind, launched a stunning fightback in the final of the men’s individual foil competition. Battling local hero Kazuki Iimura, Choi found himself in a hole early on at the Aichi Sky Expo, and slipped 4-2 behind quite... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368403/asian-games-ryan-choi-falls-agonisingly-short-gold-medal-bid-claims-foil-silver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368403/asian-games-ryan-choi-falls-agonisingly-short-gold-medal-bid-claims-foil-silver?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:39:31 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Siobhan Haughey was already the best swimmer Hong Kong has ever produced, much more like this and she will easily be the best athlete in the city’s history. The Hongkonger stormed to her second gold inside 24 hours at the Asian Games on Tuesday, sweeping all before her in the women’s 100m freestyle. Haughey touched the wall at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in 52.45 seconds, with China pair Yu Yiting and Cheng Yujie grabbing silver and bronze in 53.21 and 53.47 respectively. “I’m pretty satisfied,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368384/dominant-siobhan-haughey-pretty-satisfied-after-storming-second-asian-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368384/dominant-siobhan-haughey-pretty-satisfied-after-storming-second-asian-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:13:21 +0000 Mike Chan,Josh Ball Mike Chan,Josh Ball Ryan Choi Chun-yin will fight for individual foil gold at the Asian Games on Tuesday, after Cheung Ka-long’s early exit left him carrying the city’s hopes all on his own. Choi breezed through the knockout rounds of the tournament, displaying some sparkling form on the piste, and winning all five of his bouts in the pool stage. Alongside South Korean’s Lee Kwang-hyun and Youn Jeong-hyun, he was one of only three foilists to receive a bye straight to the round of 16. There, he quickly dispatched... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368324/asian-games-day-3-bronze-leung-haughey-cruises-cheung-struggles-foil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368324/asian-games-day-3-bronze-leung-haughey-cruises-cheung-struggles-foil?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 03:28:47 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball The Asian Games is well under way, and for Hong Kong the belief that day three will bring more medals is largely guided by the fact that athletes who have been there and done that are back in action. Fencing starts at the Aichi Sky Expo on Tuesday, the swimming continues in Tokyo, and the women’s road cycling has the potential to serve up a surprise. Here there are five things to know as the region’s best get ready to do battle once again in Japan. Chasing gold Siobhan Haughey cruised to victory... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368314/asian-games-haughey-back-action-fencers-enter-mix-5-things-know-day-3?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368314/asian-games-haughey-back-action-fencers-enter-mix-5-things-know-day-3?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:57:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan China’s Yu Zidi was less than a year old when Siobhan Haughey first made the world sit up and take notice of her talent in the pool, 13 years later they are both Asian Games gold medallists and young talent is the order of the day. On Monday, Haughey defended her women’s 200m freestyle title with a crushing victory, and Yu laid down an Asian record in winning the women’s 200m individual medley. Three years ago in Hangzhou, it was Haughey setting regional and Games records, and while not “as fast... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368277/siobhan-haughey-leads-example-inspiring-next-generation-hong-kong-swim-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368277/siobhan-haughey-leads-example-inspiring-next-generation-hong-kong-swim-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s athletes had a Monday to remember at the Asian Games, picking up six medals, and if Siobhan Haughey’s gold was more expected than hoped for, the reverse was true elsewhere. Success across wushu, triathlon, karate and swimming took the city’s overall tally to eight, with the belief more should follow when the city’s fencers enter the mix for the first time on Tuesday. Lydia Sham Hui-yu got things started with victory in the women’s wushu changquan, and there were sighs of relief all... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368282/hong-kong-athletes-enjoy-day-remember-6-medal-haul-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368282/hong-kong-athletes-enjoy-day-remember-6-medal-haul-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:30:06 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang A coming tropical storm could force the cruise ship housing athletes at the Asian Games to set sail from Nagoya to seek refuge out at sea, while some events have been postponed due to the expected heavy rain. Japan’s meteorological authorities forecast Typhoon Dujuan to hit the Izu Peninsula and Tokyo before reaching the coast of Nagoya on Monday. Heavy rain warnings have been issued across several regions, with maximum sustained winds of 90km/h and gusts reaching 126km/h, casting a shadow over... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368230/asian-games-typhoon-dujuan-could-force-cruise-ship-housing-athletes-set-sail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368230/asian-games-typhoon-dujuan-could-force-cruise-ship-housing-athletes-set-sail?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Josh Ball,Mike Chan Josh Ball,Mike Chan China’s Yu Zidi added another Asian Games gold to an already glittering resume on Monday, after Siobhan Haughey had defended her 200m freestyle title and Ian Ho Yentou grabbed silver in a fast 50m race. Yu moved through the gears in the women’s 200m individual medley at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, and her time of two minutes, 06.10 seconds, was an Asian record. That mark had been set by compatriot Yu Yiting when she won the race in Hangzhou three years ago, but the record holder was no match for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368186/asian-games-day-2-hong-kongs-sham-wins-wushu-gold-triathletes-must-win-medal-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368186/asian-games-day-2-hong-kongs-sham-wins-wushu-gold-triathletes-must-win-medal-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 01:21:43 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The sky is the limit for Chinese swimming starlet Yu Zidi after the teenage girl stormed to her maiden Asian Games gold medal on her regional multi-sport games debut on Sunday. Yu powered to the women’s 200 metres butterfly crown, leading from start to finish at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre before touching the wall first in a Games-record time of two minutes and 5.08 seconds, taking over the honour from compatriot Zhang Yufei, who set the time in Hangzhou three years ago. Yu, 13, was already three... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368162/asian-games-200m-butterfly-gold-just-start-chinese-swimming-sensation-yu-zidi-13?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368162/asian-games-200m-butterfly-gold-just-start-chinese-swimming-sensation-yu-zidi-13?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse IOC president Kirsty Coventry called the shipping container-style huts for Asian Games athletes “beautiful” on Sunday – but conceded they were “a little tighter” than similar accommodation at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Asia’s biggest sporting spectacle, which opened on Saturday in the Japanese city of Nagoya, has split with past Games by having no traditional athletes’ village. To save costs, the more than 17,000 Asian Games participants will stay in temporary huts, hotels and a cruise... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368142/ioc-president-impressed-beautiful-asian-games-shipping-container-style-huts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368142/ioc-president-impressed-beautiful-asian-games-shipping-container-style-huts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 06:35:18 +0000 Josh Ball,Mike Chan Josh Ball,Mike Chan There was something almost inevitable about the way the first day of competition at the Asian Games in Japan unfolded on Sunday, and the only real surprise would have been finding someone surprised by it all. That is until Hong Kong’s women came second in the 4x100m freestyle relay in the final event at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Just the second silver the team has ever managed in the discipline, it was as unexpected as the city-record time that accompanied it. Much earlier in the day’s proceedings,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368134/asian-games-day-1-japan-triathlete-hojo-claims-first-gold-elg-and-coggins-also-rans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3368134/asian-games-day-1-japan-triathlete-hojo-claims-first-gold-elg-and-coggins-also-rans?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:44:25 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Organisers tried to put a chaotic build-up to the Asian Games behind them on Saturday with a sparkling opening ceremony in Nagoya, although not even an acrobatic aerial display by Japan’s Blue Impulse team could silence the criticism swirling over their heads. Barely a day has gone by over the past week where complaints have not been made about the state of official accommodation, transport, venues and some of the other facilities being used for the Games. Just hours before Japan’s royal family... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368118/asian-games-open-sparkling-ceremony-message-unity-following-chaotic-build?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368118/asian-games-open-sparkling-ceremony-message-unity-following-chaotic-build?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:53:27 +0000 Paul McNamara,Agence France-Presse Paul McNamara,Agence France-Presse Any talk of potential success is almost done, early skirmishes are building to serious exchanges of fire and the first official day of Asian Games competition on Sunday will launch some to global stardom or merely enhance the reputation of those destined to be the best. There is little surprise in the names of several athletes who are expected to shine in Japan, with China’s swimming starlet Yu Zidi already being talked about as an Olympic champion in waiting. Others, such as Singapore’s rising... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368105/asian-games-teen-swimmers-titans-tennis-5-stars-set-shine-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368105/asian-games-teen-swimmers-titans-tennis-5-stars-set-shine-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:57:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The Asian Games opening ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium on Saturday will fire the starting gun on the first official days of competition in Nagoya and Tokyo, even if some athletes have already finished their events. Various team sports such as basketball, football and volleyball are working their way through the group stages, while some poor unfortunates, such as Hong Kong’s Shum Chun-hei and Liu Hei-yu, have already competed and bowed out. The pair were taking part in the modern pentathlon,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368086/postcard-nagoya-asian-games-opening-hour-nears-teething-problems-remain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368086/postcard-nagoya-asian-games-opening-hour-nears-teething-problems-remain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 02:15:24 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After all the meticulous preparation, the talking and the injury frights, Chloe Leung Wing-yee is ready for the clock to start ticking on her race of truth in the remote hills of Shinshiro City on Sunday. The little finger on her right hand that Leung broke following a racing crash in Italy in July has been a nuisance, but she has reconciled with the fact that it is just one more challenge, besides the slopes and corners that characterise a deeply technical course, to overcome in her pursuit of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3367945/hong-kong-cycling-star-chloe-leung-ready-race-truth-bid-asian-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3367945/hong-kong-cycling-star-chloe-leung-ready-race-truth-bid-asian-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Josh Ball,Mike Chan Josh Ball,Mike Chan The Asian Games open in Japan on Saturday, against a backdrop of complaints over athlete accommodation, venues that have leaked under record rainfall, and a host city still at odds with the Olympic Council of Asia over the ballooning number of those taking part. Chaos has been the theme in the week before the opening ceremony, with transport data errors at Nagoya airport leaving teams stranded for hours without food, while basketball players who did manage to get to their rooms found themselves... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368067/chaos-tepid-public-interest-asian-games-so-far-things-will-heat-when-it-counts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3368067/chaos-tepid-public-interest-asian-games-so-far-things-will-heat-when-it-counts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:05:20 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Just one day before the official opening of the Asian Games, chaotic accommodation arrangements have surfaced on the cruise ship hosting athletes in Nagoya, with Chinese table tennis stars including Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin describing living on board as a “unique” experience. On Thursday, the Chinese table tennis team held their first practice session in Nagoya following a rocky arrival that significantly compressed their training and rest schedule. The team also had to quickly adapt to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368045/china-table-tennis-stars-describe-life-asian-games-cruise-ship-unique-experience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3368045/china-table-tennis-stars-describe-life-asian-games-cruise-ship-unique-experience?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has issued a public apology after soiling herself during Hyrox Beijing, admitting she should have stepped off the track while announcing her retroactive withdrawal from the race and forfeiture of her points. The 24-year-old elite athlete completed Saturday’s race covered in faeces after organisers failed to intervene, leaving more than 1,000 subsequent participants to compete on the contaminated track and shared equipment. Wietrzyk previously posted “a win is a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367997/hyrox-beijing-athlete-apologises-china-competitors-after-soiling-herself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367997/hyrox-beijing-athlete-apologises-china-competitors-after-soiling-herself?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:30:04 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hyrox China has given full refunds to competitors affected by last weekend’s incident in Beijing, while the global governing body has updated its rule book to allow race directors to remove athletes if they pose a risk to the hygiene of the event. The commercial fitness competition has faced intense public backlash since elite Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk suffered incontinence during the solo women’s event but was allowed to carry on and win. Her mid-race left track surfaces and shared... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367861/hyrox-beijing-athletes-get-full-refund-new-hygiene-rule-will-allow-competitors-be-axed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367861/hyrox-beijing-athletes-get-full-refund-new-hygiene-rule-will-allow-competitors-be-axed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:04:08 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The Asian Games get officially under way on Saturday with the opening ceremony in Nagoya, although early rounds in several sports have already taken place. Hong Kong’s men began their football campaign on Wednesday, losing 2-0 to hosts Japan, while their female counterparts started two days earlier with a 5-1 defeat at the hands of China. It will not be until Sunday that the first gold is handed out, with triathlon and road cycling the most likely candidates to get their athletes on the podium... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3367700/asian-games-when-it-starts-how-watch-whats-new-where-hong-kong-could-win-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3367700/asian-games-when-it-starts-how-watch-whats-new-where-hong-kong-could-win-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:00:09 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball The MoonPay X Games League will hold its inaugural winter draft this week, ⁠betting that a team-based format and ⁠closer ties with the Olympic movement can build on ⁠strong audience growth for action sports, CEO Jeremy Bloom said. Eileen Gu, the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history with three golds and three silvers, is expected to be selected first overall. The draft follows the debut of the X Games Summer League, which featured teams representing Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paulo... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367699/x-games-league-hold-first-winter-draft-eileen-gu-expected-be-top-pick?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3367699/x-games-league-hold-first-winter-draft-eileen-gu-expected-be-top-pick?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Mount Everest, known to all, understood by few – including someone who has been up and down the treacherous peak almost 20 times. More than 7,500 individuals have reached the top of the highest mountain on Earth since it was first conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953, and there have been more than 15,780 successful ascents, with climbers and guides returning for repeated attempts. It has also claimed the lives of at least 346 people, which is the number since records... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3367623/phurba-tenjing-sherpa-climbing-everest-now-way-help-others-fulfil-their-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3367623/phurba-tenjing-sherpa-climbing-everest-now-way-help-others-fulfil-their-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:31 +0000