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Exclusive | Olympic champ Zheng, Hong Kong’s Haughey on strength, sacrifice and a winning mentality

Zheng Qinwen and Siobhan Haughey open up on their journeys to the top, on first day of Post’s Family Business Summit

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(From left) Joe Tsai, co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group, Zheng Qinwen, Siobhan Haughey, and twins Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, pose for a group picture during a panel discussion “Conversation with Paris Olympians” at the SCMP Family Business Summit 2024. Photo: Dickson Lee

It is not often three Olympic gold medallists and Hong Kong’s greatest athlete are gathered in a room together to discuss mental strength, sacrifice and what it takes to win, so when the opportunity arises you listen.

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The first day of the Post’s Family Business Summit closed with a panel featuring China tennis star Zheng Qinwen and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey chatting with moderator Joe Tsai about their journeys to the pinnacle of their respective sports.

And just for good measure, Chinese twins Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, who won gold in both the duet and teams events in artistic swimming in Paris, were in Saturday’s audience at the closed-door event at the Island Shangri-La.

That all are driven to succeed is a given, but what motivates them is as different as the “number of forehand techniques” Zheng said there were on the WTA Tour.

As an 11-year-old, she could not understand why others did not see her future as a tennis great as clearly as she did.

Moderator Joe Tsai (left) chats to Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen (centre) and four-time Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey at the SCMP Family Business Summit. Photo: Dickson Lee
Moderator Joe Tsai (left) chats to Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen (centre) and four-time Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey at the SCMP Family Business Summit. Photo: Dickson Lee

“Tennis was my dream, because since I was 10 years old I knew my final dream was to be in a [grand] slam, to try and reach as far as I can,” the world No 5 said.

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