Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 44 Week of 15 December 2025
(1) Hong Kong Tennis Open: Wu Yibing hopes to build on National Games win at ‘home’ event
China’s Wu expects boost from local fans as he looks to vie with Jerry Shang and Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong.
(2) HKIR ‘one of the greatest days of Hong Kong racing’ despite scary incident with track invader
Some quick thinking from Jockey Club starter Chris McMullen ensures a crisis is averted, while record number of tourists attend.
(3) Ticket touts profit at WTT Finals Hong Kong as fans pay to see Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha
Fans charged thousands of dollars extra by touts at Coliseum, but local table tennis chief says real-name sales ‘difficult to implement’.
(4) China Disabled Persons’ Federation praises Kai Tak Sports Park’s world-class accessibility
Chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation Cheng Kai has praised Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) for its world-class barrier-free facilities, saying they create a positive environment for advancing the development of parasports.
(1) Hong Kong Tennis Open: Wu Yibing hopes to build on National Games win at ‘home’ event
(Photo Credit: Xinhua)
Chinese tennis player Wu Yibing aims to start his 2026 season strongly at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, building on his recent National Games gold medal victory. Wu, who has a long-standing connection with Hong Kong dating back to junior ITF events, expressed excitement about competing at Victoria Park’s Centre Court and facing familiar opponents like compatriot Jerry Shang and local player Coleman Wong.
The 26-year-old, currently ranked 182nd, hopes Hong Kong will bring “good luck” as he plans his most complete professional season after previous injury disruptions. Following his National Games triumph, Wu prioritized fitness training and refining his serve and baseline slice during the short off-season, aiming to transform previous weaknesses into competitive strengths.
The Hong Kong Open will feature defending champion Alexandre Muller and top-50 players Lorenzo Sonego and Arthur Fils, providing Wu with high-level competition. He welcomed the opportunity to face highly-ranked opponents, noting that attracting international stars helps grow tennis in China and allows fans to see top players while giving Chinese athletes valuable experience against world-class competition.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3336514/hong-kong-tennis-open-wu-yibing-hopes-build-national-games-win-home-event?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(2) HKIR ‘one of the greatest days of Hong Kong racing’ despite scary incident with track invader
(Photo Credit: Sam Tsang/ SCMP)
The Hong Kong International Races concluded with historic milestones as Romantic Warrior secured a record fourth Hong Kong Cup victory and Ka Ying Rising won the Hong Kong Sprint, moving within one win of matching Silent Witness’s 17-race streak. Despite a 40% drop in attendance to 43,993, the event drew over 13,000 international visitors, with Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges hailing the day as “one of the greatest” for Hong Kong racing, emphasizing world-class sport over a slight 3.16% dip in betting turnover.
The races were nearly disrupted when a protester referencing the Tai Po fire tragedy rushed onto the track during the final stretch, though quick intervention by officials averted danger. Engelbrecht-Bresges acknowledged the deep community emotions surrounding the recent fire, noting the protester’s demand for a fuller investigation, but stressed that the incident did not overshadow the event’s overall success.
The event blended elite sport with entertainment, featuring a performance by K-pop star Rain and attracting fans from mainland China, South Africa, Japan, and Australia. Voyage Bubble’s repeat win in the Hong Kong Mile added to the celebratory atmosphere, with Engelbrecht-Bresges underscoring the event’s role in providing hope and showcasing Hong Kong’s resilience amid challenging times.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336398/hkir-one-greatest-days-hong-kong-racing-despite-scary-incident-track-invader?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(3) Ticket touts profit at WTT Finals Hong Kong as fans pay to see Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha
(Photo Credit: Xinhua)
Ticket touts operated openly outside Hong Kong Coliseum during the World Table Tennis (WTT) Finals, selling tickets at more than double their face value—for example, charging 2,000 yuan (approx. HK2,207)for a HK 960 ticket—and creating a secondary market where scalpers coordinated via chat groups to resell seats, often at steep markups exceeding 10,000 yuan.
Tony Yue Kwok-leung, president of the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association, noted that only 50% of tickets were available to the public, with the rest allocated to sponsors and stakeholders, but argued that increasing public ticket quotas would not stop scalping. He cited practical challenges in implementing real-name registration, while fans described a “game of nerve” where touts adjusted prices based on match timing and buyer demand.
Fans from mainland China and abroad, including a teacher from France, reported paying inflated prices, with one Shenzhen attendee spending 1,700 yuan for a HK$960 ticket after initially resisting. The prevalence of scalping led some to question the value of attending events in Hong Kong, with one Zhejiang fan noting that costs rivaled those of watching matches in Doha, raising concerns about affordability and access to international sporting events in the city.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3336400/ticket-touts-profit-wtt-finals-hong-kong-fans-pay-see-wang-chuqin-sun-yingsha?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(4) China Disabled Persons’ Federation praises Kai Tak Sports Park’s world-class accessibility
(Photo Credit: The Standard)
Chairman Cheng Kai of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation praised Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) for its world-class barrier-free facilities during a Saturday visit, which coincided with the 2025 National Games for Persons with Disabilities boccia competitions held at the Kai Tak Arena. Leading a delegation, Cheng was briefed by KTSP Director Tang King-shing on the park’s universal design principles, which exceed statutory accessibility requirements.
The sports park provides over 600 wheelchair spaces with companion seats, tactile guide paths, braille maps, hearing induction loops, and FM systems for enhanced auditory access. Additional amenities include more than 100 accessible restrooms, 32 barrier-free shower rooms, gentle outdoor slopes, low-height counters, and automatic doors, ensuring safe and comfortable participation for people with diverse abilities.
Cheng emphasized that KTSP’s facilities create a favorable environment for parasports development and promote equal participation. The park management pledged continued collaboration with various sectors to promote accessible sports facilities and host more disability sports events and international competitions in Hong Kong, reinforcing the venue’s role in advancing inclusive athletic development.
News Source: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news/article/319289/China-Disabled-Persons-Federation-praises-Kai-Tak-Sports-Parks-world-class-accessibility
