One of the world’s largest multi-sport events, the FISU World University Games 2025 will take place from 16 to 27 July in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. The University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China, is sending a delegation of 75 athletes to compete in ten sports events. Among them, twenty athletes – more than a quarter of the Hong Kong team – are from PolyU. These elite student-athletes will represent Hong Kong, China in archery, artistic gymnastics, athletics, badminton, fencing, swimming, table tennis, and taekwondo events, ready to showcase their talents and dedication on the international stage.

Notable PolyU student-athletes include Sophia Wu, bronze medallist in Women’s Team Foil at the Hangzhou Asian Games, and Chan Chung-yin, bronze medallist in the Men's Recognized Poomsae U30 Team event at the 2024 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. Joining them are fencer Chu Wing-kiu, table tennis player Karen Lee Hoi-man, and badminton athlete Leung Yuet-yee, the three of whom will be sharing their personal journeys and aspirations below. Let’s get to know these outstanding athletes!

Fencer Chu Wing-kiu (left), badminton player Leung Yuet-yee (centre), and table tennis player Karen Lee Hoi-man (right) are among the twenty PolyU student-athletes participating in the FISU World University Games 2025.

Chu Wing-kiu
Sport: Fencing
Study programme: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Linguistics and Translation
Admitted through: Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA)

Participating in the Games for the second time, sabre fencer Wing-kiu feels more confident about the team competition. She was the gold medallist in the Women's Sabre Team at the 2022 Asian Under 23 Fencing Championships. Competing in several World Cups over the past two years has helped her grow both technically and mentally, and she credits her teammates for their tremendous support. At the upcoming Games, she will anchor the team competition and also compete in singles, determined to give her best performance.

Wing-kiu believes that studying linguistics and translation has deepened her understanding of different languages and cultures, enhancing her intercultural communication skills. Her language abilities also allow her to assist with translation for her teammates during overseas competitions. Looking ahead, she hopes to become a fencing coach and pass on her experience to the next generation.

Karen Lee Hoi-man
Sport: Table Tennis
Study programme: Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physiotherapy
Admitted through: Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA)

A bronze medallist in Women’s Team Table Tennis at the 2023 Games, Karen will compete in singles, doubles, and team events this year. She hopes to apply what she has learned, enjoy the competition, and achieve new breakthroughs. To prepare, she has increased her training intensity and is eager to build on her past successes.

Inspired by family members in the medical field, Karen is studying physiotherapy at PolyU. She hopes her professional knowledge will help improve both her own performance and that of her teammates, assisting them in injury prevention and rehabilitation. After retiring from competition, she plans to contribute to the sports industry as a physiotherapist.

Leung Yuet-yee
Sport: Badminton
Study programme: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and Applied Linguistics
Admitted through: Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme (OSRS)

Graduating this year, Yuet-yee is participating in the University Games for the last time. She aspires to be a good leader, guiding younger teammates and playing a satisfying match. Last year, she was just one step away from reaching the semifinals. With six medals in local doubles and mixed doubles competitions, she feels most confident in the mixed doubles and team events this year. Yuet-yee believes the Hong Kong team is in great spirits and is eager to contribute to their success.

Her passion for English began with a love of foreign movies, and her studies have improved her communication skills and confidence in interacting with athletes from around the world. Going forward, she plans to become a full-time athlete and work towards competing in the Olympic Games.

PolyU student-athletes at the World University Games 2025 (listed in alphabetical order of surname):

PolyU student-athletes have consistently excelled in inter-collegiate sports. In April, the PolyU Sports Team once again claimed the Men’s and Women’s Overall Championships in the 2024/25 Inter-Collegiate Sports Competitions and clinched the Grand Slam title for the seventh time in a row.

To recognise students with diverse talents, PolyU offers various non-academic talent schemes, including the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA), the Special Talents Admission and Recognition Scheme (STARS), and the Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme (OSRS). These initiatives support outstanding students who excel in areas such as sports, arts and culture, STEM, leadership, and community service. In the 2024/25 academic year, 54 student-athletes have been admitted to PolyU through these schemes.