Editorial | Asian Games heroes need Hong Kong support to build on their success
- With an unprecedented haul of at least 52 medals in the bag, the city can once again be proud of its athletes and ensure those glory days continue
The Hong Kong team headed to the Asian Games in Hangzhou last month with high hopes and great expectations. The 680-strong squad, the biggest the city has ever fielded, set their sights on glory in 40 sports.
They have excelled. An unprecedented haul of medals has already been secured, with 52 in the bag and more expected before the Games end on Sunday.
Records have been broken and history made. The athletes have done Hong Kong proud.
Five years ago, in Jakarta, the city won 46 medals at the Games, more than ever before. But that impressive tally was overtaken on Wednesday when cyclist Yang Qianyu, who is set to retire, won a surprise gold in the road race.
Hong Kong’s footballers are still in with a chance of winning a medal, despite a 4-0 defeat to strong favourites Japan in the semi-final. Their performance in the tournament, the best since first competing in 1954, was extraordinary.
After beating Palestine, the Hong Kong players recorded a historic victory, with a shock 1-0 quarter-final win over Iran, one of the world’s top-rated teams. It was a brave, determined and disciplined display.
