Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 61 Week of 20 April 2026
(1) Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens crown Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: Jorja Miller to the four as New Zealand keep record intact
New Zealand beat Australia 19 to 14 to win a fourth straight Hong Kong Sevens title, with Jorja Miller central to another Black Ferns triumph.
(2) Hong Kong a magnet for ‘world-class’ sport as Manchester City and Chelsea games confirmed
Hong Kong will host Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan in August, as the Football Festival returns to Kai Tak with two major pre season matches.
(3) Hong Kong Olympian Camille Cheng enjoying sport again after injury took mental toll
Camille Cheng returned to racing after knee surgery, saying the comeback was mentally tough but humbling, and helped her rediscover the joy of competing.
(4) Hong Kong rugby legend Salom Yiu hunting next generation of local stars
Retired Hong Kong rugby great Salom Yiu now aims to develop more home-grown sevens talent, while his Hall of Fame induction highlighted his lasting influence on the sport.
(Photo Credit: Sam Tsang / SCMP)
New Zealand’s women extended their dominance at the Hong Kong Sevens on Sunday, beating Australia 19 to 14 at Kai Tak Stadium to claim a fourth straight title in the city. The Black Ferns struck quickly and controlled most of the final, reinforcing their status as the team to beat on the world series.
Mahina Paul and Jorja Miller crossed early to give New Zealand a strong start, and that fast opening proved decisive. Australia stayed in touch after Isabella Nasser scored before halftime, but their task became harder early in the second half when Teagan Levi was shown a yellow card. New Zealand took advantage through Kelsey Teneti, whose try created a cushion that Australia could not fully erase. Maddison Levi scored late, but the comeback fell short.
The result underlined a familiar pattern in women’s sevens this season. New Zealand have been the standout side, winning five of the six regular season stops and repeatedly getting the better of Australia in major finals. Sunday’s meeting was another example of their ability to start quickly, manage momentum and finish under pressure.
Miller, who has featured in each of New Zealand’s four Hong Kong triumphs, said the team’s record in the city reflected both the legacy of the jersey and the special atmosphere the tournament provides. For younger players such as Jaymie Kolose, who was playing in Hong Kong for the first time, the victory also carried personal significance and offered a confidence boost before the next rounds in Valladolid and Bordeaux.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3350645/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-jorja-miller-four-new-zealand-keep-record-intact?pgtype=live
(2) Hong Kong a magnet for ‘world-class’ sport as Manchester City and Chelsea games confirmed
(Photo Credit: Xinhua / SCMP)
Hong Kong will host four of Europe’s biggest football clubs in August as the city stages the second Hong Kong Football Festival at Kai Tak Stadium. Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan are set to feature in two high profile pre season matches that organisers say will strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading destination for major international sport.
The tournament will open on August 1 with Manchester City facing Inter Milan, before Chelsea meet Juventus on August 5. Officials described the fixtures as blockbuster occasions and said the festival builds on the momentum created by last year’s successful edition. The event is also being presented as another showcase for Kai Tak Stadium, which the government and organisers see as a landmark venue capable of attracting elite global teams and events.
Ticket prices for the two cheapest categories will remain at HK$399 and HK$799, while the higher tiers will increase, with the top price rising to HK$2,999. Open training sessions at the 50,000 seat stadium will cost HK$299, although 10,000 tickets will be distributed to local community groups. Public ticket sales begin on 14 May, with an earlier pre sale window available for registered fans.
Organisers and football officials believe the festival can become a regular fixture on Hong Kong’s sporting calendar, much like the Hong Kong Sevens. They also dismissed concerns about overcrowding in the market, even with another major match between Bayern Munich and Aston Villa scheduled at Kai Tak shortly after the festival. For supporters, the August programme offers a rare chance to watch some of Europe’s most recognisable clubs in Hong Kong, including teams that have not visited the city for many years.
(3) Hong Kong Olympian Camille Cheng enjoying sport again after injury took mental toll
(Photo Credit: SF & OC)
Hong Kong swimmer Camille Cheng Lily-mei has returned to competition after a year away from the pool, describing the experience as both humbling and rewarding after months of difficult rehabilitation following knee surgery. The three-time Olympian said the mental challenge of recovery proved just as demanding as the physical process, especially during long periods away from teammates and normal training routines.
Cheng had not raced since the 2024 Paris Olympics after undergoing surgery to repair her right anterior cruciate ligament. She made a quiet comeback this month at a Hong Kong Sports Institute meet, where she competed in the 50 metre freestyle and unexpectedly reached the final. Lining up next to teenagers less than half her age, including two 13-year-olds, gave the 32-year-old a sharp reminder of how long she has been in the sport, but also helped her reconnect with the simple joy of racing.
Throughout her recovery, Cheng shared updates on social media and leaned on conversations with others who understood the isolation of injury. She said one of the hardest parts was the lack of structured mental support, despite the clear physical timetable provided by doctors and physiotherapists. Running the Hong Kong Marathon 10 kilometre race in January gave her a welcome change of focus and helped ease the pressure of her return.
Now, Cheng says she is rethinking what success means at this stage of her career. Rather than chasing a standard comeback story, she wants to rebuild from a healthier place and remain happy in the sport. With this year’s Asian Games out of reach, she is targeting the short course world championships in Beijing in December as a possible next step.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3351029/hong-kong-olympian-camille-cheng-enjoying-sport-again-after-injury-took-mental-toll?module=top_story&pgtype=section
(4) Hong Kong rugby legend Salom Yiu hunting next generation of local stars
(Photo Credit: Dickson Lee)
Former Hong Kong rugby star Salom Yiu Kam-shing is turning his focus from playing to developing the next generation of local sevens talent. The 38-year-old, who retired after the 2024 Hong Kong Sevens, said he hopes to help more home-grown Chinese players break into the sport and strengthen their presence in the national team.
Yiu enjoyed a landmark career, making a record 75 appearances for Hong Kong in sevens and becoming the city’s all-time leading try scorer in 15s rugby. Since retiring, he has taken up a role with Hong Kong China Rugby, where he now leads the relaunched Dragons Programme, a performance initiative designed to identify and nurture local players. He said he has found the work rewarding because it allows him to support younger athletes and watch their development firsthand.
His comments came after Hong Kong’s victory over Japan in the Melrose Claymores final at the Cathay and HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. In that tournament, Fong Kit-fung was the only home-grown local player in the squad because of Cado Lee Ka-to’s injury. Yiu said he understood the pressure Fong faced, having often been the lone Chinese player himself, and praised him for handling the responsibility well and delivering strong performances throughout the event.
Fong said he hopes his own progress will encourage more Hong Kong born and raised Chinese players to pursue rugby and prove they can earn places in the starting side. Shortly after Hong Kong’s win on Sunday, Yiu was inducted into the Hong Kong China Rugby Hall of Fame as its 50th member, marking another milestone in a career that continues to shape the local game.
