Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 88 Week of 26 October 2026
(1) Global Indoor Fitness Phenomenon “HYROX Youngstars” Makes Asian Debut, Landing in Hong Kong Next January for AIA HYROX Hong Kong
Global indoor fitness sensation HYROX announced that its youth division, HYROX Youngstars, will make its Hong Kong debut during the AIA HYROX Hong Kong event in January 2027. The competition will welcome around 2,000 children and teenagers aged 8 to 15.
(2) Hong Kong’s Surging Fitness Boom Drives Growth in Sports Economy and Retail Commercial Leasing Demand
Hong Kong’s surging sports and fitness boom—fueled by marathons, fitness racing, and wellness trends—has grown the local sports economy to HK$70 billion. This expansion is driving major leasing demand in the retail property market, with sportswear brands and 24-hour fitness centers aggressively taking up large commercial spaces.
(3) National Short Course Swimming Championships 2026: Zhang Yufei and Zhang Zhanshuo Smash Asian Records to Claim Gold in Beijing
At the 2026 National Short Course Swimming Championships in Beijing, Zhang Yufei and Zhang Zhanshuo smashed short-course Asian records to win gold in the 100m butterfly and 800m freestyle. Veteran Xu Jiayu also set a new Asian record in the 100m backstroke leg.
(4) Hong Kong Tennis Star Coleman Wong Advances to Round 16 at ATP125 Seoul Challenger After Straight-Set Victory Over Local Wildcard
Hong Kong tennis ace Coleman Wong defeated local wildcard Shin San-hui in straight sets to advance to the round of 16 at the ATP125 Seoul Challenger. Fresh off reaching a career-high ranking of No. 88, Wong aims to continue his winning run.
(1) Global Indoor Fitness Phenomenon “HYROX Youngstars” Makes Asian Debut, Landing in Hong Kong Next January for AIA HYROX Hong Kong
(Photo Credit: HYROX)
HYROX, one of the world’s fastest-growing indoor fitness racing competitions, has announced that its dedicated youth division, HYROX Youngstars, will make its inaugural Asian debut in Hong Kong. The youth event will take place alongside the upcoming AIA HYROX Hong Kong from January 9 to 10, 2027, expecting to draw approximately 2,000 children and teenagers aged 8 to 15.
Following its debut in Singapore, Hong Kong will serve as the second major Asian stop for the rapidly expanding youth series. Originally piloted in select international cities before becoming a permanent fixture at the HYROX Amsterdam tour—where it drew over 1,500 young athletes on its first outing—HYROX Youngstars has since expanded to London, Berlin, Salt Lake City, and Valencia.
Jessica Petty, head of HYROX Youngstars, emphasized that bringing the event to Hong Kong marks a crucial milestone in fostering youth fitness across Asia, providing tailored age-group challenges that encourage children to build confidence, embrace active lifestyles, and share the joy of fitness with their families.
News Source: https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202610/28/AP6ae10711e4b0fa89498aa3f7.html
(2) Hong Kong’s Surging Fitness Boom Drives Growth in Sports Economy and Retail Commercial Leasing Demand
(Photo Credit: etnet.com.hk)
Hong Kong’s escalating health and fitness wave—highlighted by soaring participation in marathons, trendy disciplines like Pickleball, and global indoor fitness events such as HYROX—has significantly galvanized the local sports economy. Government statistics indicate that the value added by sports and related activities has reached HK$70 billion, marking a 19% growth compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
This robust sports-driven momentum is injecting much-needed resilience and demand into Hong Kong’s retail property market. Major sportswear brands (such as Decathlon, ASICS, and On) have aggressively expanded their footprint across prime commercial spaces, often occupying large-format flagships ranging from several thousand to over ten thousand square feet.
Concurrently, the fitness sector is experiencing explosive growth. The number of 24-hour gym franchises has surged from 117 in 2021 to 289, while CBRE’s retail real estate reports highlight fitness centers as the second most active tenant category in the third quarter alone, leasing over 50,000 square feet. This structural expansion in sports retail and wellness spaces is playing a vital role in absorbing commercial retail inventory across the city.
News Source: https://ps.hket.com/article/4214807?mtc=rwcopy
(3) National Short Course Swimming Championships 2026: Zhang Yufei and Zhang Zhanshuo Smash Asian Records to Claim Gold in Beijing
(Photo Credit: 新華社)
The 2026 National Short Course Swimming Championships (25m) continued on October 27 at the National Aquatics Centre (“Water Cube”) in Beijing, delivering a flurry of record-breaking performances. Olympic champion Zhang Yufei and rising star Zhang Zhanshuo stole the spotlight by securing gold medals in the women’s 100m butterfly and men’s 800m freestyle respectively, both shattering short-course Asian records.
In the women’s 100m butterfly final, Jiangsu team standout Zhang Yufei touched the wall first with a blistering time of 54.87 seconds, eclipsing Yu Yiting’s previous Asian record of 55.17 seconds. Zhang attributed her breakthrough to improved underwater kicking technique and rigorous high-altitude training. Meanwhile, Shandong’s Zhang Zhanshuo captured his third gold of the championship in the men’s 800m freestyle, clocking 7:28.61 to substantially lower the short-course Asian record.
The record-breaking momentum extended to the relay events. In the mixed 4×100m medley relay, veteran backstroke star Xu Jiayu spearheaded the Zhejiang team to victory in 3:36.00, setting a new Asian record. Crucially, Xu led off the backstroke leg in 48.54 seconds, breaking the men’s 100m backstroke short-course Asian record and claiming his fourth gold medal of the meet.
News Source: https://epaper.tkww.hk/a/202610/29/AP6ae258e0e4b03b525f959795.html
(4) Hong Kong Tennis Star Coleman Wong Advances to Round 16 at ATP125 Seoul Challenger After Straight-Set Victory Over Local Wildcard
(Photo Credit: ATP)
Hong Kong men’s tennis number one Coleman Wong continued his stellar late-season form by advancing to the round of 16 at the ATP125 Seoul Challenger. Seeded third in the tournament, Wong defeated South Korean wildcard entrant Shin San-hui in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) on October 27.
Wong showcased his potent serving firepower throughout the match, firing 13 aces and successfully recovering from an early second-set break to seal the victory in straight sets. The win builds on a strong momentum after finishing as runner-up at the Nansha Challenger the previous week—a performance that propelled his live ATP singles ranking to a career-high of No. 88 in the world.
Having already made history in 2026 by capturing the Jiangxi Challenger title—marking the first time a Hong Kong male tennis player secured an ATP Challenger crown—Wong continues to cement his status as a trailblazer for Hong Kong tennis on the international professional circuit. He is scheduled to face Greek opponent Stefanos Sakellaridis in the second round.
News source: https://epaper.tkww.hk/a/202610/29/AP6ae258cce4b03b525f959793.html
