Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 60 Week of 13 April 2026
(1) Hong Kong bridge half-marathon gets platinum status, now city’s top-ranked race
The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge Half Marathon has been upgraded to World Athletics platinum status, making it the highest-rated race in Hong Kong.
(2) Hong Kong star Lee hoping home crowd will roar her on to more cycling glory
Ceci Lee Sze-wing will compete at the Hong Kong leg of the UCI Track World Cup with a relaxed mindset, using the event to test herself against top riders as she prepares for the Asian Games.
(3) Hong Kong debutants facing tough test at World Team Table Tennis Championship
Hong Kong’s women’s table tennis team will head to the World Team Championships with three debutants and a difficult group, while the men’s side will aim to make the most of a more favourable draw.
(4) China’s “Su Super League” roars back ahead of World Cup fever
China’s fast-growing amateur “city super leagues” are drawing huge crowds and turning local football matches into major events that boost civic pride, sponsorship and consumer spending.
(1) Hong Kong bridge half-marathon gets platinum status, now city’s top-ranked race
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge Half Marathon has been upgraded to platinum status by World Athletics, making it the highest-rated race in Hong Kong. The event, which had gold status for last year’s edition, will now stand above the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in official grading, even though the latter remains the city’s more established race.
The platinum label is the top level of certification for road races and reflects strong performance in areas such as organisation, safety, athlete quality, runner experience and anti-doping standards. To qualify, a race must already hold gold status and meet strict requirements set by World Athletics. Organisers said the successful upgrade followed several rounds of evaluation and showed that the event had gained strong international credibility in a short time.
This year’s race will take place on November 15 and will again cover 21 kilometres along the Hong Kong section of the bridge. Last year’s event featured a strong field, with both the men’s and women’s winners breaking course records. That helped strengthen the race’s profile as it seeks to build a place among leading international road events.
The bridge half marathon has only been held since 2023, so the latest upgrade marks a major step forward for the event. Organisers have not yet announced details for this year’s edition. At the same time, discussions are still continuing over possible changes to the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon next year, including its route and format. The latest development shows that Hong Kong’s road racing scene is continuing to evolve, with the bridge race gaining status very quickly.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3349931/hong-kong-bridge-half-marathon-gets-platinum-status-now-citys-top-ranked-race?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(2) Hong Kong star Lee hoping home crowd will roar her on to more cycling glory
(Photo Credit: Edmond So / SCMP)
Hong Kong cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing will head into this week’s UCI Track World Cup on home soil without setting any specific result target, choosing instead to treat the event as part of her steady build-up to the Asian Games in September. After a packed schedule last month, including a strong showing at the Asian Track Championships in the Philippines where she won two golds, one silver and two bronzes, Lee said she has not done any special preparation and will race with a relaxed mindset.
Even so, the event remains an important test. Lee said the previous World Cup leg in Perth did not include many of the strongest international riders, so the Hong Kong stop will give her a clearer idea of how she compares with the world’s best. She is especially looking forward to racing New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston, a double medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and sees every event as a chance to measure her own level.
The Hong Kong Velodrome is also a familiar and encouraging venue for Lee, who won two National Games titles there five months ago. She hopes home support can again help lift her in the omnium, Madison and elimination races. Her teammate Chloe Leung Wing-yee said she is aiming to improve on her past World Cup performances while fixing small technical mistakes made at the Asian championships.
In the men’s events, Hong Kong’s team pursuit riders are hoping to build on the silver medal they won in Perth. Head coach Herve Dagorne said the priority is not medals this weekend, but personal bests, learning from top riders and staying on track for Olympic qualification and the Asian Games.
(3) Hong Kong debutants facing tough test at World Team Table Tennis Championship
(Photo Credit: Eugene Lee / SCMP)
Hong Kong’s women’s team will face a tough challenge at this month’s World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, with three debutants included in the squad. Veteran Doo Hoi-kem is the most experienced player in the team, while Pedrey Ng Wing-lam is the only other member with any previous appearance at the tournament. The other three players, Su Tsz-tung, Gillian Kong Tsz-lam and Karen Lee Hoi-man, will all be making their debuts.
Hong Kong have been drawn in a difficult group with Mexico, the Netherlands and Macau. Macau’s squad includes world No 5 Zhu Yuling, which adds to the challenge. Seventeen-year-old Su said she is approaching the event with both determination and a willingness to learn. Born in Hong Kong and raised partly in mainland China, she said she is proud to represent the city and hopes to contribute to the team.
Ng said the team had prepared carefully, especially for tricky opponents such as Dutch veteran Li Jie, known for her defensive style. Hong Kong will also be missing an important player, Zhu Chengzhu, who reportedly has a heart problem after returning from a recent tournament in Singapore. Her absence is a setback for a side that won bronze two years ago.
The men’s team appear to have a more manageable group, facing Nigeria, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Veteran Wong Chun-ting leads the lineup, which also includes Baldwin Chan Ho-wah, Lam Siu-hang, Yiu Kwan-to and Kwan Man-ho. Chan said he hopes to improve on past disappointment and help Hong Kong reach at least the quarter-finals.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3349227/chinese-taipei-boxer-lin-yu-ting-takes-bronze-asian-championships-competitive-return?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(4) China’s “Su Super League” roars back ahead of World Cup fever
(Photo Credit: Jonathan Wong)
China’s amateur football scene is gaining huge momentum even before the FIFA World Cup begins, with local “grassroots World Cups” drawing large crowds, boosting hometown pride and driving spending across cities. One of the biggest examples is the “Su Super League” in Jiangsu Province, which has quickly become a major regional event despite featuring amateur players such as students, teachers and office workers rather than professionals.
The second season began on 11 April in Changzhou, where more than 40,000 fans attended the opening match despite rainy weather. The season has started earlier this year and will run through late October, covering major holiday periods that usually bring strong travel and shopping activity. Big brands such as Adidas and Coca-Cola have already joined as sponsors, with total sponsorship income expected to exceed 100 million yuan.
The league’s popularity has also translated into strong economic activity. Last season attracted more than 2.43 million spectators in total, with average attendance above 28,000 per game, while online views topped 2.2 billion. During match periods, retailers and supermarkets across Jiangsu saw strong sales growth, showing how sports events are feeding into local consumption.
Cities are now actively building business opportunities around these matches. Wuxi, for example, has introduced official viewing venues across shopping areas, night markets, hotels and restaurants, while the province plans hundreds of food markets and viewing hubs during the season. Incentives such as tourism offers, vouchers, free accommodation and transport are also being used to attract fans. More broadly, similar amateur city leagues are appearing across China, showing how local sports events are becoming both cultural attractions and economic drivers.
News Source: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1358787.shtml
