Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 43 Week of 8 December 2025
(1) WTT Finals open in Hong Kong with world-class clashes
WTT Finals open at HK Coliseum with packed crowds; Japan, South Korea, China win mixed doubles, HK’s Wong/Doo fall 0-3 to China; fans praise venue and cross-border sporting passion.
(2) Chinese rookie Yang Hansen makes first NBA start
7-foot-1 Chinese rookie Yang Hansen makes first NBA start for Portland vs Grizzlies, scores 4 with Edey dunk; coach Splitter earns tech defending him in 96–119 loss.
(3) Hong Kong para athletes deliver strong medal haul at National Games
HK para athletes excel at National Games: Chan Yui-lam & Cheung Ho-ying sweep swimming golds/silvers with records; bocce silver, fencing fourth in joint HK-Macau team effort.
(4) Wheelchair fencer Alison Yu wins silver at National Games
Paralympic champion Alison Yu wins épée silver at National Games; HKJC’s HK$500M+ support funds medals (up to HK$187,500 gold), volunteers, and free tickets for underprivileged at co-hosted Para Games.
(1) WTT Finals open in Hong Kong with world-class clashes
(Photo Credit: The Standard)
The World Table Tennis (WTT) Finals opened on 10 December 2025 at Hong Kong Coliseum, Hung Hom, marking the season-ending showcase of top men’s and women’s singles and mixed doubles players. The five-day event drew enthusiastic local crowds well before the first match, with fans packing the stands to support both Hong Kong athletes and international stars. Opening-day mixed doubles featured tight contests, including Japan’s Sora Matsushima/Miwa Harimoto edging Spain’s Alvaro Robles/Maria Xiao 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 15-13) and South Korea defeating Brazil in straight sets.
Hong Kong’s Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem received strong home cheers but fell 0-3 to China’s Lin Shidong/Kuai Man. China’s top-ranked Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha dominated India’s Manush Shah/Diya Chitale 3-0. Spectators included a retiree prioritising performance over results, a long-time Chinese team supporter since the 1980s, and a Guangdong fan crossing the border for Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju, praising the venue’s facilities and accessibility while hoping for more major events in Hong Kong.
The Finals reinforce Hong Kong’s growing status as a host for elite table tennis amid Greater Bay Area integration, with passionate crowds reflecting the sport’s deep local roots. Despite Hong Kong’s early mixed doubles loss, the event highlights the city’s ability to attract global talent and cross-border fans, boosting tourism and sporting prestige as the WTT calendar culminates in high-stakes clashes.
News Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news/article/318976/WTT-Finals-open-in-Hong-Kong-with-world-class-clashes
(2) Chinese rookie Yang Hansen makes first NBA start
(Photo Credit: Reuters)
Chinese rookie Yang Hansen, the 7-foot-1 center drafted 16th overall by Memphis (traded to Portland), made his first NBA start on December 9, 2025, against the Grizzlies after injuries sidelined Donovan Clingan (leg contusion) and Robert Williams III (illness). The Trail Blazers lost 96–119, but Yang recorded 4 points, 5 rebounds, and a highlight spin-and-dunk over 7-foot-3 Zach Edey in 19+ minutes.
Interim coach Tiago Splitter praised Yang’s improved finish despite a shaky start, calling the matchup against size/strength peer Edey a “great lesson.” Splitter earned a technical foul protesting when Yang took a hard fall and play continued without stoppage. Previously averaging 2.5 points/1.5 rebounds, Yang’s season-high remains 9 points against Phoenix.
The start marks a milestone for China’s next NBA hopeful after Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, with Yang’s two-way Qingdao Eagles pedigree (16.2 ppg, 10 rpg in final CBA season) now tested against elite competition. Despite the blowout, his physicality against Edey and Splitter’s protective reaction signal Portland’s investment in his long-term development as a mobile big with defensive upside.
News Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/sports-news/article/318729/
(3) Hong Kong para athletes deliver strong medal haul at National Games
(Photo Credit: Instagram@hksportsinstitute)
Hong Kong para athletes delivered an impressive medal haul at the 15th National Games’ Para events, with standout performances in swimming and athletics. In the women’s 200m individual medley SM14 final, Chan Yui-lam claimed gold and Cheung Ho-ying silver, while earlier the duo took gold and silver respectively in the 100m breaststroke SB14—Cheung setting a new national record of 1:19.51. Cheung expressed joy that she, Chan, and teammate Lau Chiu-yee all broke national records.
Choi Chi-keung secured bronze in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB14. On the track, Yam Kwok-fan earned silver in the women’s 200m T36. The men’s bocce team added a silver medal. In wheelchair fencing at Ma On Shan Sports Centre, the joint Hong Kong–Macau women’s foil team (Lam Ka-man, Yu Chui-yee, Tong Nga-ting) finished fourth after a spirited fightback against Jiangsu, with Yu rallying to level at 40–40 before falling by four points. The men’s sabre team also placed fourth.
The results highlight Hong Kong’s growing strength in para sports amid the co-hosted National Games, with swimming doubles and fencing’s cross-border collaboration embodying Greater Bay Area unity. Chan Yui-lam’s composure after multiple events and Yu Chui-yee’s reflection on mindset underscore mental resilience critical in para competition. As Hong Kong athletes shine on a national stage, the performances boost morale and visibility for disability sports locally.
News Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/sports-news/article/318873/
(4) Wheelchair fencer Alison Yu wins silver at National Games
(Photo Credit: The Standard)
Hong Kong’s wheelchair fencing legend Yu Chui-yee (Alison Yu) claimed silver in the women’s individual épée Category A at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities on 17 December 2025, adding to her illustrious Paralympic medal haul. The award was presented by Hong Kong Jockey Club steward Anita Fung during the event held as part of the co-hosted National Games and Para Games.
All Hong Kong medalists at the National Games qualify for cash incentives under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme: HK$187,500 for individual gold, HK$93,750 for silver, and HK$37,500 for bronze, with team medals worth double. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has committed over HK$500 million to support both Hong Kong and Guangdong zones, funding volunteer programmes, community outreach, and free tickets for underprivileged groups and youth.
Yu’s latest achievement reinforces Hong Kong’s strength in para fencing and the success of sustained investment in disability sports. With nearly 100 Jockey Club volunteers on-site and comprehensive community engagement, the funding model exemplifies how private-sector support can elevate elite performance while promoting inclusivity and public participation in the Greater Bay Area’s flagship sporting event.
News Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/sports-news/article/319101/
