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Paul McNamara

China table tennis great Ma Long received a rock star’s welcome as he made a guest appearance at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University on Friday.
A six-time Olympic gold medallist, Ma joined a panel discussion, then exhibited his enduring talent in front of a thrilled audience. As he made to leave the sports hall after trading shots with two leading university players, Ma disappeared amid a scrum of bodies hunting selfies and signatures.
“That enthusiasm and excitement showed the power and influence one individual can have, and he uses it with such grace,” said Yvette Kong Man-yi, the former Hong Kong Olympic swimmer and Ma’s fellow panel member at the event titled A Glamorous Transformation in Sports: The Next Level.
“He made a lot of people’s days, weeks and years. He’s very poised, and very humorous in a lot of ways. I enjoyed the conversation and felt super-honoured to share a stage with someone that great. He’s more than an athlete, he’s a superstar.”
Joined in conversation by Kong and the five-time Olympic swimmer Stephanie Au Hoi-shun, the 37-year-old Ma, who is widely expected to retire in the near future, revisited how he “felt a bit lost” after winning his first Games gold in 2016.
He adjusted his mindset following a pep talk from Liu Guoliang, who narrowly failed to defend his Olympic singles and doubles titles in 2000.

“He told me, ‘You can challenge history, no one has ever won twice in a row [in men’s singles]’,” Ma said. “This helped me regain my motivation and pursue excellence.”
Ma also advised his rapt young gathering to alight on a sport they are passionate about, then shoot for the stars. “You can be proactive, constantly striving for excellence and moving towards your goals,” he said.
Au said the panel discussion had heightened her awareness that “it’s daunting to move away from swimming”.
“I’ve had the same identity for so long,” she said.
The 33-year-old has represented Hong Kong in every Olympics since 2008, and was flag bearer in the 2016 Games where Kong competed. She will put her name down for the 50m backstroke at this year’s Asian Games, but said gaining an opportunity to add to her eight medals was “not my priority”.
“I’m still training and will see if I can make it, but I’m working on Mind the Waves [the mental health charity she founded in 2023 with teammates Camille Cheng Lily-mei and Jamie Yeung Zhen-mei].
“Swimming has only ever been competitive; what if it can be something else? It’s a very new and bold idea to put out there; telling people I’m swimming for leisure. I wonder how they’ll see me. This identity shift is very new to me.”

Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, hosted the event and moderated both panels.
He hailed the occasion, attended by around 1,000 people, with more than 3,000 trying to subscribe for tickets, as “wildly popular”.
Fok pledged to invite more leading athletes to Hong Kong to share personal stories that “contribute to society and discussions”, and said that Ma relating his experiences would have “inspired young people”.
Eager for sport to feature in the city’s five-year plan, Fok said he would be assembling a broad range of people from the sports sector to learn “what they want the next five years to look like”.
A blueprint for the plan, being drawn up by the Hong Kong government in collaboration with the legislature, is expected to be ready by the end of this year.
“It’s important to have our voice heard; I hope it will be included in the final plan,” Fok said. “April and May will be a critical time, so we’ll start as soon as possible.”
There was also a panel discussion on how to accelerate the city’s event economy.
“We need to attract more events to Hong Kong now that we have Kai Tak [Sports Park] and all these world-class stadiums in our city,” Fok said.
Eric Fok Kai-shan, the chairman of the local football association, said his organisation expected to again host European clubs this summer following last year’s successful Hong Kong Football Festival.


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Ma Long receives rock star welcome in Hong Kong as China great attracts thrilled crowds

Fans capture the moment as Ma Long plays table tennis at Polytechnic University. Photo: Elson Li

Ma Long entertains his university audience with an improvised trick shot. Photo: Elson Li

Ma Long and Stephanie Au during their panel discussion at Polytechnic University. Photo: Elson Li

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Sport

China

Hong Kong

Six-time Olympic champion table tennis player appears at Polytechnic University panel event and then trades shots with university players


Six-time Olympic champion table tennis player appears at Polytechnic University panel event and then trades shots with university players.


Ma Long

Stephanie Au Hoi-shun

Eric Fok Kai-shan

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Ma Long receives rock star welcome in Hong Kong as China great attracts thrilled crowds

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Six-time Olympic champion table tennis player appears at Polytechnic University panel event and then trades shots with university players

Six-time Olympic champion table tennis player appears at Polytechnic University panel event and then trades shots with university players