Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 41 Week of 17 November 2025
(1) Ilhan, Shawal shatter Hong Kong hearts, Singapore claim stunning Asian Cup upset
Hong Kong throw away early lead, lose winner-takes-all battle for place at 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia.
(2) Hong Kong equestrian Jacqueline Lai off to Asian event after fifth spot at National Games
Despite finishing outside the medals, Lai says she is ‘quite pleased’ with her efforts and looking ahead to competing again next week.
(3) Hong Kong épée team’s defeat a learning experience for West Island School pupil Wu
Wu Haidi calls competition at Kai Tak Arean an ‘unforgettable experience’ that will help her in the future.
(4) National Games: Ian Ho gold is first for Hong Kong’s men, as Haughey reaches 2 more finals
Siobhan Haughey will have to swim two races in five minutes on Monday after reaching finals of 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle.
(1) Ilhan, Shawal shatter Hong Kong hearts, Singapore claim stunning Asian Cup upset
(Photo Credit: Sam Tsang/SCMP)
Hong Kong’s Asian Cup qualification hopes collapsed in a dramatic 2–1 loss to Singapore at a packed Kai Tak Stadium, with two goals conceded within five second-half minutes shattering their dreams. Despite Matt Orr’s early opener, Singapore’s Shawal Anuar and Ilhan Fandi capitalized on defensive errors—particularly from veteran goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng, controversially selected by coach Ashley Westwood—to reverse the game and secure Singapore’s first Asian Cup berth since 1984.
Westwood called the loss “devastating” and acknowledged football’s cruelty, despite his team’s effort and desire. The defeat nullified a promised HK$1 million qualifying bonus and reignited criticism of Westwood’s earlier tactical and personnel choices, which had previously fueled calls for his dismissal. Singapore’s coach Gavin Lee praised his team’s resilience against 47,762 hostile fans, highlighting collective effort as key to their historic win.
Hong Kong started aggressively, with Orr’s 15th-minute goal sparking euphoria, but Singapore gradually clawed back. Wang’s hesitation allowed Anuar to equalize in the 63rd minute, before Ilhan’s stunning 25-yard strike sealed the turnaround. Late drama saw Camargo’s free-kick hit the bar, but Singapore’s time-wasting and resilient defending secured their qualification, leaving Hong Kong to rue missed chances and questionable selections.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3333307/ilhan-fandi-shawal-anuar-shatter-hong-kong-hearts-stunning-asian-cup-upset?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(2) Hong Kong equestrian Jacqueline Lai off to Asian event after fifth spot at National Games
(Photo Credit: Handout)
Following her fifth-place finish in the National Games showjumping final in Shenzhen, Hong Kong equestrian Jacqueline Lai Jing-man expressed overall satisfaction despite narrowly missing a medal. She attributed the jump-off result to her horse feeling “a little empty” but remained positive as she prepares to directly transition to the Asian Championships in Pattaya—a unique back-to-back championship challenge.
Lai emphasized her readiness for the upcoming Asian Championships, noting strong support from the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which allowed her to focus solely on riding. With experience from the 2019 Asian team gold and a matured perspective, she approaches the competition with heightened confidence and minimal pressure compared to earlier career appearances.
Teammate Raena Leung Hou-ling, who finished eighth, reflected on the sport’s unpredictability after a two-year break exploring coaching and sports psychology. Despite a medal-targeted campaign, Leung acknowledged the unique horse-rider dynamic and China’s rising competitiveness, highlighting the value of partnership over guaranteed outcomes. While skipping the Asian Championships to recharge, she recognized the team’s collective effort and growth potential.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333443/hong-kong-equestrian-jacqueline-lai-asian-event-after-fifth-spot-national-games?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(3) Hong Kong épée team’s defeat a learning experience for West Island School pupil Wu
(Photo Credit: Eugene Lee/SCMP)
Hong Kong’s women’s épée team, led by individual bronze medalist Kaylin Hsieh, narrowly defeated Shandong 33–30 to reach the semifinals at the National Games but fell short of a medal after successive losses to Fujian and Beijing. Despite the fourth-place finish—an improvement from their seventh-place ranking in the previous Games—the team showcased resilience, with Hsieh praising their “never-give-up spirit” and ability to chase points even when trailing by significant margins.
Sixteen-year-old fencer Wu Haidi, making her National Games debut, described the event as an “unforgettable” milestone that helped her gauge her current level and identify areas for growth. She highlighted the supportive arena atmosphere and her teammates’ encouragement, which eased her nerves during critical matches, including a starting role in the bronze medal match assigned by coach Gauthier Grumier.
In the men’s sabre team event, third-seeded Hong Kong suffered a quarterfinal upset against Shanghai, with silver medalist Aaron Ho’s poor start contributing to a 45–35 loss. Although they rebounded with a win over Anhui, a subsequent defeat to Shanxi confined them to sixth place. The Games underscored both progress and persistent challenges for Hong Kong fencing, emphasizing the need for technical and physical refinement ahead of future competitions.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333294/hong-kong-epee-teams-defeat-learning-experience-west-island-school-pupil-wu?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(4) National Games: Ian Ho gold is first for Hong Kong’s men, as Haughey reaches 2 more finals
(Photo Credit: Xinhua)
Ian Ho Yentou seized the spotlight at the National Games by winning Hong Kong’s first men’s swimming gold in the 50m freestyle, clocking a city record of 21.71 seconds. His triumph overshadowed Olympic star Pan Zhanle, who settled for bronze, and built on Ho’s earlier success at the World Aquatics Championships, fueling his motivation for future competitions.
Ho attributed his win to refining his dive and underwater technique, emphasizing consistency through dedicated training. He highlighted the mental advantage of lane-based racing, which allowed him to focus on execution rather than competitors. The victory followed Adam Mak Sai-ting’s bronze in the 200m breaststroke, marking a breakthrough for Hong Kong’s male swimmers.
While Ho celebrated, Siobhan Haughey advanced to finals in the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle, facing the unprecedented challenge of back-to-back races. Teammate Man Wui-kiu also qualified, but Cindy Cheung Sum-yuet placed eighth in the 200m backstroke, citing struggles with race-day focus. Haughey’s dual finals test her explosiveness and adaptability, underscoring the team’s mixed results amid historic achievements.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3333003/national-games-ian-ho-gold-first-hong-kongs-men-haughey-reaches-2-50m-finals?module=Golf&pgtype=section
