South China Morning Pos / Sport

1. Zhang, 18, beats Pan Zhanle, Sun Yang at National Games, but Pan wins relay gold

   The National Games’ swimming events began in Shenzhen on Monday with a highly anticipated clash of generations between Pan Zhanle and Sun Yang – but both were put in the shade by a rising star. Pan and Sun, two of China’s most talked-about swimmers of recent years, earned places in men’s 400 metres freestyle final, but neither mounted a challenge for the podium and it was 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo who took gold, in record-breaking fashion. Zhang clocked three minutes and 42.82 seconds to smash...

2. Hong Kong rugby teams named for National Games, asked to inspire a generation

   Head coach Jevon Groves has called on his senior stars to “inspire the next generation”, after Hong Kong declared their hand for the National Games rugby sevens at Kai Tak Stadium this week. A formidable-looking 13-strong men’s squad will be spearheaded by James Christie and Seb Brien, the co-captains, wing wizard Max Denmark and evergreen Cado Lee Ka-to. And ahead of what could prove a last sevens hoorah for some key figures, given the city’s 15s team’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World...

3. Hong Kong’s handball team denied National Games medal by ruthless Beijing

   Hong Kong had their National Games handball medal dream shattered by ruthless Beijing at Kai Tak Arena on Monday evening. The home team made a fast start and briefly led the bronze medal match, but they ultimately succumbed to the visitors’ physicality and skill in a 33-25 defeat. Only four goals separated the sides when Beijing led 15-11 at half-time. The capital’s team, who had come within a whisker of reaching the final during a dramatic last-four defeat by favourites Jiangsu on Saturday,...

4. ONE Championship: Carrillo doubles down on title push after dismantling Lessei

   Nico Carrillo showed exactly why he was considered one of the most dangerous finishers in Muay Thai after dispatching Luke “The Chef” Lessei in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok last Saturday. The Scottish contender survived early adversity, switched stances and tore through Lessei with a ruthless second-round barrage to maintain his 100 per cent finishing rate inside ONE Championship. Carrillo weathered a difficult opening round, absorbing a steady diet of low kicks and teeps,...

5. Digital horse passport ‘a significant milestone’ for equestrian sport

   The world governing body for equestrian sport has concluded its general assembly in Hong Kong, with officials making several decisions expected to affect its future direction. Some 267 delegates from 73 national federations took part in the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) gathering, the first time it has taken place in the city in 27 years. Chief among those decisions was the announcement of the digital horse passport, which is expected to be implemented from next year and could...

6. Newnham not sweating winless run as title leader brings strong team to the Valley

   Mark Newnham is not sweating a very rare winless run as the trainers’ premiership leader heads into Happy Valley on Wednesday evening with a pep in his step. Five clear of his nearest rival David Hayes in the title race, Newnham had won at 13 consecutive meetings to start off the campaign, but has drawn blanks at the last three fixtures. Six of his runners at those winless meetings finished in the top three, however, and Newnham is still more than happy with the way his string is running. “We...

7. ‘Magical’ mythical fish puppet steals show at National Games opening ceremony

   A giant, floating, mythical fish puppet at the National Games’ opening ceremony on Sunday captured the hearts of the live audience and those watching on television, in a show that also featured performances by Hong Kong pop stars, the lighting of the game’s cauldron and more. Spectators of the ceremony, which kick-started the 13-day quadrennial event at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre, rushed to the social media platform RedNote to share close-up clips of the luminous, colourful puppet...

8. National Games: Hong Kong rowers fall short of medals but get a surprise visitor

   A surprise guest was at the Guangdong International Rowing Centre on Monday morning as Hong Kong’s Chiu Hin-chun and Winne Hung Wing-yan both fell just short of earning National Games medals. The city’s rowers each finished fifth in their respective lightweight single sculls finals before Thomas Bach, former president of the International Olympic Committee and a former Olympic gold medallist, showed up for a guided tour at the venue and greeted the athletes. “The former IOC president swung by...

9. National Games: will Pan Zhanle return to world-record form or end year in flop?

   Three days ahead of his 20th birthday, Pan Zhanle of China produced a swim at the Paris Olympics that catapulted him to Olympic gold and international attention. Pan smashed his own world record in the 100m freestyle, his time of 46.40 seconds at Paris La Defense Arena destroying his previous best of 46.8. What made Pan’s world record all the more impressive was that it came in one of what swimming experts throughout the Games said was a notoriously “slow pool”, evidenced by race times and the...

10. National Games: what to watch as Hong Kong rower Chiu, handball team hunt medals

    Sunday’s opening ceremony may have marked the official start of China’s National Games, but some of the sports were already days into their competitions. Besides cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing winning the road race in Zhuhai, several other Hongkongers were in action on Sunday, and a few more have a big day to come on Monday. Here is our guide to the day ahead. Monday’s highlights Medals are up for grabs on Monday for Hong Kong in rowing and handball, while the swimmers enter the fray. In rowing, Hong...

11. National Games: high praise as Hong Kong cyclist Ceci Lee strikes gold again

    Congratulations poured in for cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing on Sunday following her second gold medal win at a Chinese National Games, with government officials hailing her for bringing “glory to Hong Kong”. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui praised Lee following her title defence in the women’s road race cycling in Zhuhai earlier in the day. “I am thrilled and excited,” Law said. “[Lee] has once again brought glory to Hong Kong following her gold medal at the last...

12. Stunning mix of old and new on show as China’s National Games opened by Xi

    President Xi Jinping opened China’s 15th National Games in Guangzhou on Sunday, on a night filled with symbolism and heavy on emphasising the role the Greater Bay Area will play in the country’s future. As might be expected from an opening ceremony at a major sporting occasion in China, there was a stunning mix of old and new on display, with water at its centre and fire at its end. Hong Kong, co-hosting for the first time in its history, was well represented too, not just by its athletes and...

13. Yosuke Asaji becomes Japan’s first Singapore Open champion in 49 years

    Yosuke Asaji became the first player from Japan to win the Moutai Singapore Open in nearly 50 years as he beat South Korea’s Wang Jeung-hun on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off on Sunday. Asaji made a birdie putt from six feet in the play-off, on the par-five 18th on the New Course at Singapore Island Country Club, after Wang found water with his second and ended with a six. Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (66) and Korean Lee Soo-min (69) tied for third, one shot back, in the...

14. Ex-Miss Hong Kong contestant Ko among guests as Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day goes pink

    Appearances by ex-Miss Hong Kong contestant Samantha Ko Hoi-ling and singer Yan Ting headlined the festivities at the 21st edition of the city’s most glamorous lifestyle racing event – Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day. Punters swathed in pink descended on Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, with many flocking to the parade ring to watch singer Ting get the festivities under way shortly before the racing started. Sa Sa also forged a special collaboration with the Hong Kong Design Institute to present a dazzling...

15. Light Years Charm bound for return to Group features after tough Class Two success

    David Eustace will look at testing Light Years Charm in Group company again after the progressive galloper dug deep to claim a fighting win in Sunday’s Class Two Santa Monica Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin. Dropping in grade after an unlucky seventh behind My Wish in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m), Light Years Charm relished a frenetic speed set by Beauty Crescent and Drombeg Banner to record his fifth win from 11 local starts. Zac Purton settled the $3.75 favourite in midfield and he...

16. Pakistan win ‘wonderful’ Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, as explosive hosts steal show

    Pakistan thumped Kuwait by 43 runs to win a “wonderful and extravagant” Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, but the city team’s Aizaz Khan stole the show after he creamed 30 off the final over to earn an improbable plate final victory for the hosts over distraught Bangladesh. Runners-up last year, Pakistan went one better this time after captain Abbas Afridi’s unbeaten 11-ball 52 helped them pile up 135 for three in the final. Kuwait began quickly in reply but after Muhammad Shahzad hurried a ball through...

17. Crawford’s ‘fairy tale’ continues as Encountered takes Group Three glory

    Brett Crawford’s “fairy tale” start to his Hong Kong training career continued when Encountered flashed home to recapture the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Churchill galloper had been winless in 18 runs after winning the race in 2023 for David Hall and signs of a revival last year were limited, including a midfield finish in this race 12 months ago. He switched stables into Crawford’s care ahead of this season and after a pair of promising runs in Class Two...

18. Xi opens National Games, Hong Kong’s Lee says hosting ‘honour’ – as it happened

    This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. It feels as though we’ve been talking about this moment for months, but the opening ceremony for the National Games finally arrived and served up a celebration to remember. Organisers had vowed to blend cutting-edge technology with the rich cultural heritage of southern China’s Lingnan...

19. Size shrugs off slow start and winless streak to bag Sha Tin treble

    After a typical slow start to the season and 87 runners without a victory, John Size made an emphatic return to the winners’ enclosure with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 13-time champion Hong Kong trainer managed just two wins and a frustrating 19 placings from the first 18 meetings of the season, before he struck with Sight Hermoso, Ka Ying Power and the impressive Szeryng on Sunday. “Normally, as you’ve probably read 1,000 times, we have slow starts to seasons but as long as we get going...

20. Hong Kong rower Chiu to carry city’s flag at National Games opening ceremony

    Hong Kong rower Chiu Hin-chun has been handed the honour of carrying the city’s flag in the opening ceremony of the National Games on Sunday. The 31-year-old will lead the delegation into the Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre, but will not be able to stay for the whole event because he has a final on Monday morning. Chiu said he had been given a week to get used to the idea that he would be the flag bearer for Hong Kong. “I am honoured, of course, to take part in the National Games and be selected...