Hong Kong to send a kabaddi team to Asian Games for first time in Hangzhou
- Olympic Committee approves delegation of almost 700 athletes for Hangzhou, but expects final number to reach at least 800 before July 15 deadline
- Hong Kong sending its largest ever squad for an Asiad, with number dwarfing the 584 athletes who travelled to previous Games in Jakarta in 2018
The Hong Kong Olympic Committee approved an Asian Games delegation of close to 700 athletes on Monday, with a men’s kabaddi team set to represent the city for the first time at an Asiad this summer in Hangzhou.
The number already far surpasses the size of the delegation that went to Jakarta five years ago, when Hong Kong was represented by 584 athletes.
But it is expected this year’s number will swell further before the entry deadline of July 15, set by Hangzhou organisers, passes.
“Some big team sports like [men’s and women’s] football have yet to submit their names and we are therefore expecting more to come in the next 10 days,” an Olympic Committee official said after Monday’s selection meeting.
“Our overall sports standard has been improving, And major sports such as swimming, fencing, cycling, and athletics are sending strong squads.
Coupled with the government’s funding for eight sports teams – men’s baseball, as well as women’s softball and football, basketball, handball, hockey, volleyball and water polo – officials believe the total number of athletes going to Hangzhou will be well over 800.