Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 47 Week of 12 January 2026
(1) Hong Kong’s Men’s Foil Team Wins Gold at Fencing World Cup in Paris
Hong Kong’s men’s foil team defeated the United States and claimed gold at the Fencing World Cup in Paris.
(2) Coleman Wong Beats Spain’s Pablo Llamas Ruiz in the Second Round of the Australian Open Qualifying
Coleman Wongdefeated Spain’s Pablo Llamas Ruiz 7-6, 6-0 in the second round of the Australian Open qualifying and is now poised to face Sweden’s Elias Ymer in the final qualifying round for a place in the main draw of the tournament.
(3) Virginia Lo Aims for Personal Best at Hong Kong Marathon
Hong Kong distance runner Virginia Lo Ying-chiu is preparing to chase another personal best at this Sunday’s Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.
(4) “Northeast Super League” Sets to Enhance Football Culture in Northeast China
Competition regulations for the “Northeast Super League” (Dongbei Chao) have recently been announced, signaling the official launch of this regional tournament.
(1) Hong Kong’s Men’s Foil Team Wins Gold at Fencing World Cup in Paris
(Photo Credit: International Fencing Federation)
Hong Kong’s men’s foil team clinched the gold medal at the Fencing World Cup in Paris on 11 January 2026, defeating the United States 45-38 in a fiercely contested final. The team, featuring two-time Olympic gold medalist Edgar Cheung, reigning world champion Ryan Choi, Cheng Tit-nam, and Mike Lam, celebrated their first team gold of the 2025-26 season, which started in November 2025.
To reach the final, Hong Kong showcased impressive performances by overcoming tough competitors, including Qatar, Poland, the Russian delegation competing under a neutral flag, and Japan. Although they initially encountered nerves, trailing the Americans 4-10 in the gold medal match, they quickly turned the tide, exchanging leads before entering the final round with a narrow 40-38 lead.
In a striking rematch of the individual foil final from the previous day, Ryan Choi avenged his earlier loss to Alexander Massialas, decisively winning 5-0 to secure the team gold for Hong Kong. This victory marks the Hong Kong SAR’s second foil team gold at the World Cup, following their win on home soil in 2024, and represents their best performance this season after finishing fifth in Spain in November 2025 and 13th in Japan last month.
News Source: https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1839459-20260112.htm
(2) Coleman Wong Beats Spain’s Pablo Llamas Ruiz in the Second Round of the Australian Open Qualifying
(Photo Credit: handout)
Coleman Wong Chak-lam said he is “really enjoying” playing tennis after defeating Spain’s Pablo Llamas Ruiz 7-6, 6-0 in the second round of the Australian Open qualifying on 14 January 2026. The 21-year-old has had a promising start to the year, making it to the singles quarter-finals and doubles semi-finals at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open last week – both personal bests on the ATP Tour. Wong is now just one win away from entering the main draw at the Australian Open.
In his match against Ruiz, Wong showcased his skills with 34 winning shots, 12 aces, and only 11 unforced errors at Melbourne Park’s ANZ Arena. He maintained composure to win the first set after a tough 9-7 tiebreak, taking 51 minutes, and then raised his game, dominating the second set 6-0 in just 25 minutes. Despite his success, Wong acknowledged the challenges faced by athletes in Hong Kong, emphasizing the need to “just keep believing” in oneself.
Wong credited his coaches and team for their preparation and support, expressing gratitude for their involvement in his journey. He highlighted the importance of focusing on every point and being clear about his daily objectives on the court. Grateful for the encouragement from his Hong Kong fans, Wong pledged to give his all and hopes to take one more step toward qualifying for the main draw. He is set to face Sweden’s Elias Ymer in the final qualifying round for a spot in the Australian Open.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339825/coleman-wong-beats-pablo-llamas-ruiz-edge-closer-australian-open-main-draw?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(3) Virginia Lo Aims for Personal Best at Hong Kong Marathon
(Photo Credit: China News Service)
Hong Kong distance runner Virginia Lo Ying-chiu is set to pursue another personal best at this Sunday’s Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon (SCHKM), continuing her streak of impressive performances from last year. “Both my training progress and physical condition feel good, and I hope to run faster than last year’s Hong Kong Marathon as well as break the personal best I set at the National Games — if the weather and other conditions are favorable,” Lo expressed.
In the previous year’s marathon, Lo claimed the local women’s title with a personal best of two hours, 39 minutes, and 56 seconds, finishing eighth overall among female competitors. This remarkable performance made her one of only two active female runners from Hong Kong to break the two-hour and 40-minute barrier. At the National Games in November 2025, she further improved her record to 2:39:23 and also set new personal bests in other distances, including the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters on the track, as well as a half-marathon time of 1:14:58 at the Gold Coast Marathon.
Now, with two full marathons under her belt, Lo feels more confident heading into this year’s race, stating that the challenging course in Hong Kong no longer seems daunting. She has learned from both successes and setbacks on the marathon route, noting that weather plays a significant role in performance. “Experience from the National Games and the Hong Kong half-marathon championships has taught me how to handle the hills and pace myself better,” she said. With a race strategy focused on staying calm during challenging moments, Lo’s commitment to fully embracing each competition has shaped her approach to training and competition over the past year. Her boyfriend, Eric Wong Kai-lok, the 2021 Hong Kong Marathon champion, will also compete, aiming to improve upon his personal best of 2:25:31 with a determined mindset.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3339771/hong-kongs-virginia-lo-resume-quest-another-personal-best-hong-kong-marathon
(4) “Northeast Super League” Sets to Enhance Football Culture in Northeast China
(Photo Credit: VCG)
The “Northeast Super League” (Dongbei Chao) has officially been launched, with competition regulations released that aim to foster football culture as part of the lifestyle in Northeast China. This regional tournament aims to absorb talent from different provinces, bringing together eight football teams from Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The participating teams, representing cities such as Dalian, Shenyang, Harbin, and Hohhot, highlight the area’s unique football heritage. Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, emphasized that the joint league seeks to sustain a city-based sports spirit centered around football in provinces with a rich football culture. Unlike traditional professional leagues, the Northeast Super League prohibits players registered with first-tier Chinese professional clubs, reinforcing its grassroots approach.
Set to kick off in mid-May 2026, the league will unfold in two phases: a regular season from mid-May to mid-August and playoffs from 5 September 2026 to 1 October 2026. Each competing team is required to have a home stadium with a minimum seating capacity of 20,000 spectators, meeting league standards for lighting and turf. The league’s objective is to integrate football resources in Northeast China while promoting the idea that football is a lifestyle rather than just a competitive sport, collectively encouraging regional participation and exchange.
News Source: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202601/1352913.shtml
