Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 39 Week of 3 November 2025
(1) Quan Hongchan seals first diving gold of National Games for Guangdong, closes in on record
Team title takes Quan Hongchan to within one gold medal of tying the legendary Fu Mingxia and two of record holder Guo Jingjing.
(2) National Games: Hong Kong’s young handball players step up as hosts eye semi-finals
Inexperienced side beaten by Beijing but captain and coach confident of being in better shape for last eight on November 7.
(3) LIV Golf turns back on 54-hole format, moves to traditional four rounds from 2026
Officials claim move shows willingness to ‘innovate and evolve’, while players hope it leads to Official Golf World Ranking points.
(4) Li Na says Hong Kong ready to host higher-level tennis events
Chinese tennis icon and Tournament Director Li Na announced that Hong Kong is prepared to host elevated WTA events after the triumphant wrap-up of the 2025 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, a highlight of the city’s “Super October” sports lineup.
(1) Quan Hongchan seals first diving gold of National Games for Guangdong, closes in on record
(Photo Credit: Xinhua)
Chinese diving sensation Quan Hongchan played a pivotal role in Guangdong’s successful defense of the women’s team gold medal at the National Games on Sunday, edging closer to legendary status in her country’s diving history. The 18-year-old three-time Olympic gold medalist teamed up with Wang Weiying in the synchronized 10-meter platform event, securing victory with a score of 235.86 points to top the standings. Shanghai’s Chen Yuxi and Zhang Minjie trailed closely in second with 234.96 points, just 0.9 behind, while Guangdong’s Jiang Linjing and Xie Peiling claimed bronze with 229.26 points. Bolstered by dominant performances in the day’s other disciplines, Guangdong clinched the overall team title ahead of Sichuan and Shaanxi.
With an illustrious resume including five world titles and two golds from the Hangzhou Asian Games, Quan’s medal haul at the quadrennial Games positions her for potential history-making runs. She is set to compete in her only other event this week—a synchronized 10-meter platform alongside Wang on Thursday—which could tie her with four-time National Games gold medalist Fu Mingxia and narrow the gap to record holder Guo Jingjing’s six golds. Representing her home province of Guangdong, which is co-hosting the Games with Hong Kong and Macau, Quan marked her return to competition after a 183-day hiatus, her last outing being the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing in May.
Despite the extended break, which included withdrawals from the national championships and the World Championships in Singapore, Quan showed no signs of rust in her flawless execution. She and Wang led from their opening forward dive with 3.5 somersaults in pike position and maintained the edge through their third attempt, a back dive with two-and-a-half somersaults and one-and-a-half twists in pike. Their superior start proved decisive, as identical scores in the final two dives separated them from Shanghai’s duo. Guangdong’s morning dominance in the synchronized and individual 3-meter springboard, plus the individual 10-meter platform, had already built a commanding lead, with Paris Olympic champion Chen Yiwen starring by topping both 3-meter events alongside Lin Shan.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331247/quan-hongchan-seals-first-diving-gold-national-games-guangdong-closes-record?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(2) National Games: Hong Kong’s young handball players step up as hosts eye semi-finals
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
Hong Kong’s handball team deliberately fielded a younger, less experienced line-up against Beijing in their final Group A match at the Kai Tak Arena, losing 35-19 to conserve energy for the National Games quarter-finals on Friday. Having already secured third place in their group, the injury-plagued squad prioritized rest over victory, with captain Freddie Tse Wing-fai acknowledging Beijing’s superior strength and emphasizing the need to avoid high-intensity games four days consecutively.
Tse praised the debutant players’ performance despite initial nerves, noting challenges like positional shifts—such as adapting to center-back roles—and the significance of playing before home crowds and families. Coach Hui Man-pong echoed this, highlighting the team’s usual strengths in fast breaks and transitions while admitting they couldn’t execute fully against Beijing, citing injuries forcing key players like Tse and defender Eddy Ip Kwun-hung to play through pain.
Hong Kong is likely to face Shanxi in the quarter-finals, a team Tse described as “really good” and more experienced but expressed confidence in overcoming. With two rest days ahead, Hui emphasized the need for full effort in knockout matches, noting injuries to multiple players including Toby Lin Yun-to’s hand inflammation, but remained optimistic about recovery and semi-final prospects in the 10-team tournament featuring mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau squads.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331524/national-games-hong-kongs-young-handball-players-step-hosts-eye-semi-finals?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(3) LIV Golf turns back on 54-hole format, moves to traditional four rounds from 2026
(Photo Credit: Eugene Lee/SCMP)
LIV Golf has abandoned its signature 54-hole tournament format—derived from its Roman numeral name—and will adopt a traditional 72-hole structure starting with its 2026 season, including a Hong Kong event scheduled for March. The shift aims to align with global standards, enabling LIV events to qualify for Official Golf World Rankings points and facilitating player eligibility for major championships, addressing a key limitation that hindered its athletes’ competitive pathways.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil framed the move as a “pivotal new chapter” for the league’s fourth season, emphasizing innovation and evolution in the sport’s best interests. Top LIV stars endorsed the decision, with Jon Rahm calling it “a win for the League and players,” while Bryson DeChambeau highlighted its potential to unify elite competition and increase LIV player participation in majors.
The format change also removes a major stumbling block in ongoing negotiations with the PGA Tour, potentially accelerating talks to unify professional golf. Launched in 2022 with high-profile signings, LIV’s structural alignment with traditional tournaments signals a strategic maturation as it prepares to launch its 2026 season in Saudi Arabia, balancing innovation with broader integration into the golf ecosystem.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3331550/liv-golf-turns-back-54-hole-format-moves-traditional-four-rounds-2026?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(4) Li Na says Hong Kong ready to host higher-level tennis events
(Photo Credit: The Standard)
Chinese tennis legend and Tournament Director Li Na declared Hong Kong ready to host higher-level WTA tournaments following the successful conclusion of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025, part of the city’s “Super October” sports series. The event attracted top international players like Sofia Kenin, Leylah Fernandez, and Belinda Bencic, alongside local talents Cody Wong and Eudice Chong, who secured their first main draw wins, showcasing Hong Kong’s growing competitiveness.
In her second term as Tournament Director, Li Na oversaw all aspects of the event—from player coordination and WTA compliance to fan engagement and city tours for athletes—ensuring seamless execution. She emphasized that player feedback and observed improvements in standards affirm Hong Kong’s capacity to bid for elevated WTA events and establish itself as a premier tennis hub in Asia.
Held at Victoria Park from October 25 to November 2, the WTA 250 tournament featured over 50 players competing for US$250,000 in prize money, backed by title sponsor Prudential Hong Kong Limited and the Hong Kong China Tennis Association. This institutional support, combined with operational refinement, positions Hong Kong for future hosting of larger-scale international tennis competitions.
News Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/sports-news/article/315775/Li-Na-says-Hong-Kong-ready-to-host-higher-level-tennis-events
