The 2010s: Hong Kong sports moments that made history

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From Sarah Lee's medal at the London Olympics to badminton and fencing success, here are the feats that stand out

Kelly Ho |
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We're taking a look back at some of the most iconic moments in local sport in the 2010s, from Olympic medals and championship titles to new records and rising stars.

2010

The year 2010 marked the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, which was held in Singapore in August. Hong Kong sent 14 athletes to take part in seven events and brought home two silvers, thanks to windsurfer Michael Cheng Chun-leung and equestrian star Jasmine Lai Zin-man.

Meanwhile, the senior Hong Kong team performed exceptionally well at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou in November. They won a total of 40 medals – eight gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze.

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2011

The star of the year was Marco Kwok Ho-ting, who clinched gold in the men’s 15km scratch at the 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in the Netherlands. Kwok became the second male cyclist from Hong Kong to win a rainbow jersey after famed rider Wong Kam-po earned one in 2007.

2012

Hong Kong witnessed a historic moment at the 2012 London Olympics when cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze brought home the city’s third Olympic medal in the women’s keirin by coming third in the final.

Sarah Lee won the hearts and minds of Hongkongers with her Olympic performance.

2013

A notable breakthrough was achieved by teenage fencer Karen Chang Ngai-hing, who won a gold in cadet women’s sabre at the World Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Croatia.

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2014

At the second Youth Olympics held in Nanjing, Hong Kong’s teenage athletes proved their worth by bagging two gold, four silver and one bronze medal. Those that stood out included Siobhan Haughey (swimming), Ryan Choi Chun-yin (fencing) and Ng Tsz-yau (badminton).

At the Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea, the Hong Kong team was, for the first time, placed in the top 10 on the medal table. Several athletes made history by winning the city’s first-ever gold medal in their sport, including Lok Kwan-hoi (rowing) and Shek Wai-hung (gymnastics).

Siobhan Haughey is one of Hong Kong's elite swimmers.
Photo: Xinhua

2015

Hong Kong snooker player Ng On-yee, 24, became the first Asian woman to win the WLBSA World Ladies Championship in Leeds, in Britain, in September.

In November, local bowling star and cancer survivor Wu Siu-hong made an incredible comeback to win the 51st QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup held in Las Vegas, in the US. He became the first local to top the podium at a bowling World Cup.

2016

The city sent 38 athletes to take part in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August. While they did not bring home any medals, it was a milestone for more than half of the athletes who were making their Olympic debut.

Earlier in May, local windsurfing prodigy Mak Cheuk-wing became Hong Kong’s newest sporting hero after she was crowned junior world champion in the Under 15 Techno 293 class at the age of 13.

Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka-long also made enormous strides to become the first local badminton player to capture the men’s singles title at the Hong Kong Open in November.

Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka-long hits a shot against compatriot Hu Yun during their semi-final men's singles match at the Hong Kong Open badminton tournament.
Photo: AFP

2017

At the 29th Summer Universiade held in Taipei in August, elite swimmer Siobhan Haughey did Hong Kong proud by winning two gold medals in women’s 100m and 200m freestyle, while setting a record-breaking time in the second event.

In November, local tenpin bowling men’s trio Wu Siu-hong, Mak Cheuk-yin and Tseng Tak-hin made history by clinching gold at the World Bowling Championships.

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2018

More than 580 athletes represented Hong Kong at the Jakarta Asian Games and they came home with their best-ever total medal haul of 46 – surpassing the 42 they won in Incheon four years earlier and equalling the eight gold medals they won in Guangzhou in 2010. They also won 18 silver and 20 bronze medals. There were some touching moments, especially when equestrian star Jacqueline Siu Wing-ying cried tears of joy after winning a historic gold in the individual dressage event.

At the third Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fencing star Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan bagged an individual silver and a mixed team silver, while hurdler Addis Wong Lok-hei became the first Hong Kong athletics team member to win a medal at the Youth Games.

Competiting alongside some of the best young hurdlers from around the world, Addis Wong Lok-hei (middle) said his performance was enhanced because he wanted to keep up with them.
Photo: Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong

2019

Cycling superstar Sarah Lee asserted her dominance in track cycling by winning two rainbow jerseys in women’s sprint and keirin at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Poland in February.

Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai reached No 1 in the world in women’s épée, after a historic third place finish at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in July, as well as winning multiple World Cups and Grand Prix events.

Edited by M. J. Premaratne

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