Follow South China Morning Post - Hong Kong Sport, filter it, and define how you want to receive the news (via Email, RSS, Telegram, WhatsApp etc.) https://follow.it/scmp55 Mon, 17 Jan 2022 21:49:48 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqwsI8smIhOLCejEQ2Mq9rY Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee FC have been drawn against Shanghai Port and Chiangrai United in the group stages of the Asian Champions League.In last year’s competition, Kitchee finished with a creditable 11 points from six matches and narrowly missed out on the last 16, while striker Dejan Damjanovic overtook Lee Dong-gook as the competition’s record scorer.One more side will be added to Group J, with the winners of a playoff making up the numbers.✨#ACL2022 group stage draw…]]> Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:11:09 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqwsI8smIhOLCejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpeOB2iDZefmHn9ye8UNv30 Tokyo Olympic fencing champion Cheung Ka-long made Hong Kong history once again after winning men’s individual foil gold at the FIE World Cup in Paris, France on Saturday.The 24-year-old beat Edoardo Luperi of Italy 15-12 in the final in what was his first international outing since the Summer Games.The world No 4 Cheung impressed throughout the competition, including a blitzing of world No 1 and former world champion Alessio Foconi of Italy 15-4 in the semi-final.On the way to the final,…]]> Sat, 15 Jan 2022 23:34:02 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpeOB2iDZefmHn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRoLx6qCmySYjuT5HJgy6HUf Hong Kong senior men’s head coach Jorn Andersen made clear he would not tolerate any drunken antics from his players after last month’s under-23s team controversy.The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) had fined and banned 10 age-group players from playing for the representative national team for one year after they reportedly vandalised hotel rooms during a drinking session on their AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers tour in Japan last October.This week, the HKFA announced it would reject an…]]> Sat, 15 Jan 2022 09:00:19 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRoLx6qCmySYjuT5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRoc2PshbP6NBClmFkX7M1Jw Freshly appointed Hong Kong men’s football team head coach Jorn Andersen has already identified several areas for improvement after studying team film during quarantine.The 58-year-old Norwegian, who the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) announced last December would be spearheading the city’s AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, conducted his first press conference on Friday since taking over.Local media questioned the ex-North Korea, K-League and Bundesliga coach on his style of play, Asian…]]> Fri, 14 Jan 2022 13:08:20 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRoc2PshbP6NBClmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRo3-wrEdxaqZaCY3L745TL_ Hong Kong fitness centre operators have called for a loosening of restrictions and more funding as the government prepares to announce details for its latest round of pandemic relief funding on Friday.“We hope the government can fairly and reasonably deal with each industry, we are against the blanket suspension of our operations,” Wong Wing-sum, executive director of the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China, said on Thursday.“We’d rather operate with some restrictions and we hope…]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2022 14:37:37 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRo3-wrEdxaqZaCY3L745TL_ https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRp8asYvSdg1a-zdsCmHakzH You do not get paid by the hour in MMA and that is probably a good thing for Hong Kong’s Ramona Pascual. Her Invicta FC debut was over in just a minute.In the co-main event, Pascual saw an opportunity to shine on the biggest stage of women’s MMA and boy did she take it.Her opponent, Shamir Peshewa, who stepped up as a late replacement, was in trouble from the opening bell as Pascual pushed forward and landed a barrage of strikes and knees. Peshewa really did not stand a chance.“Vicious and…]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2022 07:42:56 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRp8asYvSdg1a-zdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRr1jtY-6LKap8b1naedg1wr Hong Kong Football Association has handed Shinichi Chan a one-year ban from representative football for his part in a drunken disturbance during October’s AFC U23 Championship qualifier in Japan.Chan was one of many under-23 players from the representative team to be fined after they reportedly vandalised hotel rooms during a drinking session after Hong Kong were beaten 4-0 by Japan in their final qualifying match in Hirono, Fukushima on October 28.The players’ behaviour came to light after the…]]> Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:17:14 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRr1jtY-6LKap8b1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpLQDD9fazUa8b1naedg1wr Sidney Chu is one of Hong Kong’s record three Winter Games athletes going to the Beijing 2022 Olympics in February.At just 22, the short-track speed skater has his best competitive years ahead, but becoming one of the city’s top skaters has already taken some toll.Whether it is training abroad to make up for the lack of standardised local rinks, recovering from a nasty fractured foot in his teens, or undergoing three weeks’ quarantine for a pre-Olympics Hong Kong pit-stop to promote the sport,…]]> Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:15:26 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpLQDD9fazUa8b1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrZA0k2JGZQV8b1naedg1wr A potential face-off between an Olympic gold medallist and a world record holder has been avoided with organisers of the Cathay 2021 Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards separating the “best of the best” prize into men’s and women’s categories.Hong Kong enjoyed unprecedented sporting success in 2021 with fencer Cheung Ka-long winning gold in the men’s foil, one of six medals for the city at the Tokyo Games.Swimmer Siobhan Haughey won two silver medals in Tokyo, in the women’s 200-metre freestyle and…]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2022 14:15:16 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrZA0k2JGZQV8b1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqqEzf30Fek2-T5HJgy6HUf Dai Wai-tsun, better known as “Tsun Dai” in the UK and “Dai Weijun” in China, has become the first Hong Kong-born footballer called up to the Chinese national football squad in the modern era.The 22-year-old Shenzhen FC midfielder has been included in a list of 52 players selected by Li Xiaopeng for the new manager’s first training camp, which starts next Tuesday in Shanghai ahead of their upcoming 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.China face Japan in Saitama on January 27, before taking on…]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2022 04:44:03 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqqEzf30Fek2-T5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRouHXGGBQZCzXn9ye8UNv30 Hong Kong 100m record holder Ng Ka-fung is to train with Asia’s fastest man, China’s Su Bingtian, ahead of the Asian Games in Hangzhou later this year.A joint venture between the Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) and the Chinese Athletics Association has made the training camp in Shenzhen possible, and Ng will travel to mainland China once he has obtained permission to do so.However, because of the coronavirus pandemic, only 600 people a day are allowed to cross the border on a first…]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:15:16 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRouHXGGBQZCzXn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqERPGkR4iAO5VjH6qdYdAk The future of gymnastics and tennis as elite sports in Hong Kong still hangs in the balance, with both facing the axe in less than three months.Neither sport has met the criteria to remain among the 20 Tier A programmes at the city’s Sports Institute, and could lose the prestigious status at the start of the new financial year on April 1.But with government proposing to review its system for supporting elite athletes, both sports may get a stay of execution for another year, allowing them to…]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:15:23 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqERPGkR4iAO5VjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrsOMZK863LJSejEQ2Mq9rY Hong Kong’s gym and fitness industry is pleading with the government not to force them to endure yet another shutdown as the threat of a Covid-19 outbreak lurks once again, according to an internal memo obtained by the Post.The Hong Kong Fitness Industry, which represents dozens of local establishments, said they cannot bear the financial burden of another closure and acceptance is waning amid the business community for financial relief.“The closure announced for fitness centres will once again…]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:45:14 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrsOMZK863LJSejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrdt-OVVzOXZXn9ye8UNv30 Top driver Darryl O’Young said he would like to see his dream come true as the Hong Kong government weighs up the prospect of building the city’s first motor racing circuit in Lantau.The 2021 Macau Grand Prix GT Cup champion said such a racetrack would be a key milestone for the development of motorsport in Hong Kong.“There is no sport that can be developed without a venue,” O’Young said. “It’s not only for drivers like us. It can also motivate more young people to take up the sport and attract…]]> Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:15:20 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrdt-OVVzOXZXn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpC4k_aEnRjWl1cWWor9YPv Hong Kong golfer Jason Hak Shun-yat’s second place on the China Tour Order of Merit is the best finish ever by a player from the city.The 27-year-old earned a total of 603,576 points and 502,980 yuan (US$78,900) after 11 Tour events, finishing behind China’s Zhang Huilin, and soaring up to a career-best 346 in the world rankings.Hak had a superb 2021, which included winning the penultimate Hengdian Championship by nine strokes in November. He also finished second at the Wuhan, Zhengzhou and…]]> Thu, 06 Jan 2022 04:15:12 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpC4k_aEnRjWl1cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRouBCQz4vHh-SlmFkX7M1Jw The Hong Kong government’s decision to reimpose some of its toughest Covid-19 controls, as the city braces for a fifth wave of infections, has left sport associations scrambling to rearrange fixtures and save seasons.Top-flight football, rugby and cricket have all been affected, while the city’s athletics association’s plan to send athletes to next month’s 10th Asian Indoor Championships has been thrown into disarray after the government announced on Wednesday that all sports venues must shut…]]> Wed, 05 Jan 2022 12:57:06 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRouBCQz4vHh-SlmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrnHOUhQ2ug-F1cWWor9YPv Local football may suffer another blow to its already poor attendance record when the government introduces tighter vaccination rules next month, the sport’s top official in Hong Kong said on Tuesday.Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) chairman Pui Kwan-kay said he was worried the stricter measures would persuade some fans to stay away from venues but there was little the body could do.“This is to be done for the sake of protecting people under the pandemic and a government policy which we…]]> Tue, 04 Jan 2022 15:15:20 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRrnHOUhQ2ug-F1cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqFja652UdZQqCY3L745TL_ Short track speed skater Sidney Chu said the success of Hong Kong’s Olympians at last year’s Tokyo Games will add to the pressure when he represents the city at Beijing 2022 next month.The three-strong contingent of Chu and skiers Audrey King and Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen will be Hong Kong’s biggest at the Winter Games since their debut at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.The speed skater will be one of the 32 athletes in the men’s 500 metres in Beijing and although Hong Kong athletes are generally…]]> Tue, 04 Jan 2022 14:15:15 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRqFja652UdZQqCY3L745TL_ https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRp51AAChH7Yssb1naedg1wr Priscilla Hon shook the tennis world after a stunning comeback against two-time grand slam title-winning Petra Kvitova at the Adelaide International on Monday, winning a 27-shot rally in the process.Hon beat Kvitova in three sets, and progressed to the round of 16, where she will face either fourth seed Paula Badosa or former world No 1 Victoria Azaenka, who play on Tuesday evening.The Australian wild card, who is ranked 214 in the world, received plaudits from the likes of national teammates…]]> Tue, 04 Jan 2022 12:15:17 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRp51AAChH7Yssb1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpoQwifRynLtuzdsCmHakzH Hong Kong Cricket Club Optimists beat Vagabonds by seven wickets, powered by an unbeaten 123 from Hong Kong head coach and former Ireland international Trent Johnston, in their Sunday League Division Two clash at Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.Vagabonds scored 242 for nine from their 50 overs with Ankur Vasishta scoring 60 from 39 balls and Mohammaed Hussain Khan taking three for 45 for Optimists.After losing Mark Farmer for one, fellow opener Craig Johnstone (74) and Conor Hickey (25) built a solid…]]> Tue, 04 Jan 2022 09:41:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/ZnFXRqn9BRpoQwifRynLtuzdsCmHakzH