Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 26 Week of 4 August 2025
(1) Kai Tak football fest a win for Hong Kong as host of elite sporting events
A series of top sporting events have been held in Hong Kong since the sports park opened and more are on the way, notably the National Games.
(2) Double Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen set to chase record Hong Kong Open jackpot
Viktor Axelsen confirmed his participation in the Li-Ning Hong Kong Open from September 9 to 14 to defend his title.
(3) Hong Kong aiming to produce world snooker champion with help of Judd Trump, Neil Robertson
World-renowned snooker players aim to develop Hong Kong’s first world snooker champion.
(4) World Games kick off in Chengdu
The 12th World Games commenced in Chengdu on Thursday with the 90-minute opening ceremony gathering delegations from about 120 countries and regions. The event will run until August 17, featuring about 200 medal events across 34 sports disciplines.
(1) Kai Tak football fest a win for Hong Kong as host of elite sporting events
(Photo Credit: Elson Li)
Hong Kong’s football festival, featuring four top teams from England and Italy, thrilled fans, attracted visitors, boosted the economy and showcased the city’s credentials as a host for elite sporting events. The two matches capped a successful first five months for the spectacular new Kai Tak Stadium, which welcomed its 1 millionth spectator at the clash between North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham.
The attendance for that match set a record for a football game in Hong Kong, as did the festival’s other contest, between Liverpool and AC Milan. Both enjoyed crowds just short of the 50,000 capacity. Kai Tak Sports Park passed a major test, with fans dispersing smoothly after each game. The turnout for the open training sessions particularly impressed the visiting clubs: a total of almost 60,000. The two friendly matches were competitive as the teams, full of stars, prepared for the season ahead. The fans created a vibrant atmosphere.
Hong Kong supporters are generally civilised and sporting. The festival was no exception. Many were experiencing a top-level football match for the first time. The efforts of all four teams were appreciated. The stadium was variously described by visiting players and managers as “fantastic”, “incredible” and a “game changer”.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3320485/kai-tak-football-fest-win-hong-kong-host-elite-sporting-events
(2) Double Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen set to chase record Hong Kong Open jackpot
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
The Li-Ning Hong Kong Open has secured a major coup with double Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen confirming his participation to defend his title when the tournament returns from September 9 to 14 at the Hong Kong Coliseum. The Dubai-based star, who claimed his second consecutive Olympic gold in Paris last summer, will make his comeback after undergoing back surgery in April. He will face stiff competition from world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in what promises to be a thrilling men’s draw. Organizers, undeterred by Tuesday’s thunderstorms that forced the cancellation of a press conference, anticipate the event will ignite a fresh wave of sporting enthusiasm in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s men’s charge will be spearheaded by world No. 13 and 2019 champion Lee Cheuk-yiu, alongside 2016 winner Angus Ng Ka-long and last year’s quarterfinalist Jason Gunawan. In the women’s category, the Chinese word No. 3 Han Yue will return, joined by world No. 4 Chen Yufei, the 2019 Hong Kong Open winner. Happy Lo Sin-yan (the world No. 46) is poised to carry home hopes.
The tournament, a Super 500 event with an increased prize purse of US$500,000, has earned “M” Mark status from Hong Kong’s Major Sports Events Committee, attracting athletes from 20 countries and regions, including 20 Hong Kong players and 36 from mainland China. Mixed doubles pair Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet, last year’s Olympic quarterfinalists, will also represent the host city.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3320849/double-olympic-champion-viktor-axelsen-set-chase-record-hong-kong-open-jackpot?share=ikF2yDgy3qgaPvGxdeGoGChWFR0Fw5I6966ax5qH%2BFVxeS%2B%2BXRWphvBQlyzZmdOgfzXNlXR86Zlp9OxsclOlLkKOFXPhpqAj9Nm7Us77DFE%3D&utm_campaign=social_share
(3) Hong Kong aiming to produce world snooker champion with help of Judd Trump, Neil Robertson
(Photo Credit: Jonathan Wong)
World-renowned snooker players Judd Trump and Neil Robertson have set an ambitious goal to develop Hong Kong’s first world champion in the sport. While mainland China’s Zhao Xintong recently ended its World Championship drought, Hong Kong’s best performances remain Marco Fu Ka-chun’s semi-final runs in 2006 and 2016, alongside Ng On-yee’s three women’s world titles in 2019. The former world champions, both Hong Kong residents, co-founded the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Academy, which officially opened this week to nurture local talent.
Located in Kai Tak Mall 3, the academy features five full-sized and four reduced-sized tables in a bright, spacious environment—a stark contrast to Hong Kong’s traditionally “dingy and smoky” snooker clubs. Trump, the 2019 world champion, emphasized the need for professional training spaces, stating, “Our aim is to have a world champion in the men’s game from Hong Kong.” The facility aims to make snooker more accessible and glamorous, akin to golf, while providing young players the chance to train on competition-grade tables. Both Trump and Robertson plan to practice there regularly, offering aspiring players a rare opportunity to observe and learn from elite professionals.
Robertson, the 2010 world champion, highlighted their patient, quality-focused expansion strategy, stating, “We want every academy to be of equal quality and produce good players.” Having won Hong Kong’s first ranking event in 36 years at the World Grand Prix in March, Robertson is keen to build on his success and give back to the city’s passionate fanbase. Hong Kong Sports Commissioner George Tsoi Kin-pan commended the initiative, noting the sport’s growth in 2025 and welcoming Trump and Robertson as key contributors to the local sports scene. Their academy represents a major step in positioning Hong Kong as a future hub for snooker excellence.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3320985/hong-kong-aiming-produce-world-snooker-champion-help-judd-trump-neil-robertson?share=aySvyFi%2FZ1r%2BymYDueVFFeIrKrY3x%2Bvzguomx8A%2B6%2FOda9gR%2Fzag3mFeJ5iSocKYEIbLsbGybSbpw98rO0oJ1%2BROkjR2tqU0KLT3Js2wDMo%3D&utm_campaign=social_share
(4) World Games kick off in Chengdu
(Photo Credit: The World Games 2025)
The 12th World Games commenced in Chengdu on Thursday, marking China’s debut as host of this prestigious event for non-Olympic sports. The 90-minute opening ceremony began with dance and sports performances. Delegations from about 120 countries and regions taking part in the event then marched into the venue, where they were cheered on by enthusiastic crowds. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry expressed gratitude to the central authorities for hosting the event in a video message, stating, “I’d like to take a moment to thank the Chinese organisers for their professionalism and hospitality, as usual, seamless organisation and legendary Chinese efficiency,” while encouraging athletes to enjoy the competition.
Leading Hong Kong, China’s team as flag-bearers were the city’s top squash player Alex Lau and wushu athlete Lydia Sham. Lau recently became the third-ever SAR athlete to claim a men’s single title at the Asian Squash Individual Championships, while Sham had won three medals, including a gold, at the Taolu World Cup in Japan last October. The 21-member Hong Kong team will compete across seven disciplines, including air sports, billiards, karate, orienteering, squash, water skiing, and wushu.
The event will run until August 17, featuring about 200 medal events across 34 sports disciplines.
News Source: https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1817221-20250807.htm
