Transforming athletes through education and innovative research

Taking place every four years, the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China (National Games) was held in November. The Games embodies a philosophy that sport builds character, fosters unity and drives societal progress—the same spirit PolyU champions through its student-athlete admissions programmes, cutting-edge sports science research and holistic education that recognises sporting achievement as integral to personal development.

With more than 60 student-athletes and alumni representing Hong Kong, China at the Games, PolyU’s transformative impact on the city’s sporting landscape has never been more pronounced.

These elite competitors exemplify years of dedicated training and academic pursuit within a support ecosystem specifically designed to nurture dual excellence. Their participation reflects not only individual achievement, but also the success of a philosophy that does not separate academic rigour from sporting ambition.

Among the many PolyU student-athletes joining the 15th National Games are:

Mak Hong-nin

•    BSc (Hons) in Nursing, Year 2
•    Admitted through SALSA

I balance my studies and training by managing my time effectively and remaining dedicated. This approach enables me to excel both in sports and in my academic pursuits.
~ Mak Hong-nin (Judo)

 

Suen Yee-tung

•    BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy, Year 3
•    Admitted through OSRS

It is a great honour to represent Hong Kong, China in the National Games held in Macao. Training takes up most of my spare time, but I make good use of commuting time to study.
~ Suen Yee-tung (Volleyball)

Holistic student-athlete support

Our sporting culture begins with admission. The Special Talents Admission and Recognition Scheme (STARS) , comprising the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA) , Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme (OSRS) , and other schemes, creates multiple pathways for talented students to access higher education while pursuing sporting excellence. In the 2024/25 academic year, 54 student-athletes gained admission through these schemes—a testament to the University’s commitment to recognising diverse forms of excellence.

PolyU has strengthened its commitment to sports education through academic programmes such as the MSc in Sports Technology and Management, and the BSc (Hons) in Sports Science and Technology to be launched in 2026. The University also offers custom-designed curricula for elite athletes at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, and scholarships for those studying Bachelor’s or PhD degrees, empowering them to excel both academically and athletically.

The University’s holistic support extends to providing student-athletes with specialised accommodation through the STARS Residential College, which offers coaching, mentoring and action learning projects that foster both athletic and personal development.

Building a championship culture

This philosophy has yielded remarkable results. PolyU claimed both the Men’s and Women’s Overall Championships in the 2024/25 Inter-Collegiate Sports Competitions, securing an unprecedented seventh consecutive Grand Slam title. Demonstrating the University’s ability to develop world-class athletes who compete at the highest levels, Karen Lee Hoi-man won a Bronze Medal in Women’s Team Table Tennis at the 2025 FISU World University Games, while Lydia Sham Hui-yu, who is also competing at the 15th National Games, took the Gold Medal in the Women’s Taolu Changquan – Jianshu – Qiangshu combined event at the 12th World Games.

Karen Lee Hoi-man

•    Undergraduate, the BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy
•    Admitted through the SALSA

Lydia Sham Hui-yu

•    Undergraduate, the BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy
•    Admitted through the OSRS

 

Photo credit: Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

RISports: When science drives performance

The University established the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) in 2022, aiming to address the evolving needs of sports participants at all levels. RISports navigates dual challenges: empowering athletes seeking performance enhancement, while also motivating broader community participation in sports through accessible, scientifically-backed innovations.

Professor Zhang Ming, Director of RISports, explained, “We bring together researchers from 17 different departments across the University, about 70 scholars all working on sports-related research that impacts on sports that include cycling, fencing, karate, swimming, taekwondo and various ball sports.” They deliver advanced scientific solutions through research in four areas: Sports Biomechanics and Human-Product Interaction; Sports Product Design, Materials and Manufacturing; Sports Measurement, Feedback and Instrumentation; and Sports Training and Rehabilitation. This multifaceted approach tackles sporting challenges from multiple perspectives.

AI-powered 3D motion analysis

The RISports team leverages AI and computer vision to reconstruct three-dimensional models from two-dimensional competition footage of elite athletes, extracting crucial biomechanical parameters including muscle force, joint force and individual athlete characteristics. This revolutionary technology provides coaches and athletes with invaluable insights into force application techniques and injury prevention strategies.

The research extends to real-time sports analysis through camera systems that capture athletes’ movement dynamics, including joint angles, velocity, acceleration and more.

Through partnerships with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, PolyU has secured considerable government funding for sports science and research projects, demonstrating the University’s leadership in enhancing elite athlete performance. Additionally, Professor Zhang spearheaded the establishment of the International Society of Sports Science and Technology dedicated to bringing together leading academics, practitioners and industry experts from around the world to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promote cutting-edge research, and drive innovation in athletic performance, health and well-being.

Professor Zhang Ming

•    Chair Professor of Biomechanics and Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering
•    Director of RISports
 

Sports physiotherapy excellence

Behind every great athlete is a team of experts working tirelessly to ensure optimal health and peak performance. Among these unsung heroes is the PolyU rehabilitation sciences (RS) team, led by Professor Amy Fu, Associate Director of RISports. Her extensive experience includes supporting athletes at major international events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

For the National Games, Professor Fu leads a dedicated multidisciplinary RS team comprising nine faculty members, alumni from the department and over 30 students pursuing PolyU sports physiotherapy programmes. This specialised team will provide comprehensive sports physiotherapy services to elite athletes competing for Hong Kong, China, as well as support for the Guangdong province’s table tennis and fencing teams.

Their services encompass pre-competition personalised performance assessments and analysis, health and training load monitoring, training support and clinical physiotherapy consultations, with on-site medical support for the sports teams.

The RS team has spent over a year preparing, conducting thorough assessments to identify injury risks, analysing movement patterns and providing rehabilitation therapy for injured athletes. The team has adopted several innovative in-house technologies, including the Patellar Auto-mobilising Device for knee pain relief and a unique shoulder brace specifically designed for judo athletes. Their comprehensive approach includes educating athletes on recovery strategies to ensure swift return to training and competition.

Professor Amy Fu

•    Peter Hung Professor in Pain Management
•    Associate Head and Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
•    Associate Director of RISports
 

Revolutionary innovations in action

Beyond rehabilitation and performance optimisation, RISports researchers are revolutionising athletic equipment through innovations in sportswear technology.

One breakthrough innovation developed by Professor Shou Dahua’s team is iActive™ intelligent sportswear. This technology uses low‑voltage-driven artificial “sweat glands” and a root‑like liquid network mapped to sweat zones to quickly eject perspiration as droplets, reducing weight and cling, keeping the skin dry, and removing sweat up to three times faster than peak human sweating.

The team has also developed Omni-Cool-Dry™, a breathable skin-like fabric that routes sweat directionally while providing spectrum selective cooling. By reflecting solar and ground radiation and emitting mid-infrared body heat, it helps keep wearers cool and dry even under the sun, lowering skin temperature by about 5°C compared to conventional fabrics.

Professor Shou Dahua

•    Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies
•    Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles
•    Associate Director, Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion
•    Associate Director, PolyU-Xingguo Technology and Innovation Research Institute
 

Vision for the future

The integration of student-athlete support, sports education and research excellence aligns with the University’s broader sporting development goals.

PolyU Council Member Mr Kenneth Fok is also Vice-President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and Chairperson of the Hong Kong, China Olympic Academy.

PolyU demonstrates how universities can transform athletic performance and sporting landscapes through comprehensive support, holistic education and cutting-edge research, working to enhance sports excellence at all levels while inspiring greater community participation in sports. Through its innovative approach, the University creates a ripple effect that extends beyond elite competition, fostering a culture where sporting achievement becomes a shared aspiration across society.