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Funding for esports could result in big win for Hong Kong economy, industry players say
- Focus turns to esports after Cheng Yip-kai, 16, becomes first Hongkonger to win Pokemon World Championships
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Hong Kong should inject more funding into the esports industry to boost the city’s economy and technological development as local players have shown their potential at recent events, sector representatives have said.
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The calls for more resources followed 16-year-old Cheng Yip-kai becoming the first Hongkonger to win the Pokemon World Championships, held this year in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Eric Yeung Chuen-sing, founding president of the Esports Association of Hong Kong, said Cheng’s victory on Sunday, as well as achievements such as a Hong Kong team winning a silver medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last September, were a breakthrough and showcased players’ potential.
“Despite a lack of resources, Hong Kong has a lot of quality players … Esports and players in Hong Kong mainly rely on their own to train and use their own resources to develop,” he said on Tuesday.
“Esports is emerging and we have a lot of chances to get good results. It is worthwhile for the government to consider allocating resources.”
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He added that esports could also help in the development of innovation and technology, which the government had laid a focus on in recent years.
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