Determination, resilience and years of dedicated training were on full display as 76 PolyU student and alumni athletes represented Hong Kong at the Asian Games, competing alongside the region’s finest sporting talent and delivering an impressive medal haul.

The PolyU delegation secured two gold medals, one silver medal and six bronze medals, while also setting new Hong Kong records. Their achievements reflect not only sporting excellence, but also the courage, discipline and commitment required to compete at the highest level of international sport.

Among the standout performances, Sham Hui-yu Lydia captured gold in the Women’s Changquan event in wushu, earning the first gold medal for the Hong Kong delegation at this year’s Games. Lee Ka Yi claimed gold in Mixed Doubles squash and added a silver medal in the Women’s Team event. Bronze medals were won across karate, wushu, fencing and rugby sevens, underscoring the breadth of talent within the PolyU community.

For Lydia, a student of the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy admitted through PolyU’s Outstanding Sportsman Recommendation Scheme (OSRS), standing atop the podium was the culmination of years of dedication. “Standing on the podium representing Hong Kong China validated years of training, sacrifice and perseverance. This medal belongs not only to me, but also to my family, coaches, teammates and the PolyU community, who supported me every step of the way” she said. “The University’s flexible learning arrangements and unwavering support for student-athletes also empowered me I was able to pursue excellence in both my studies and sport.”

PolyU has long championed a dual-career pathway that enables athletes to pursue academic and sporting aspirations simultaneously, helping them thrive both in the classroom and on the international stage.

Reflecting on her own journey, Lee Ka Yi, an alumna of BSc (Hons) Investment Science and another beneficiary of the OSRS, said: “Balancing elite squash training with my studies at PolyU has been an invaluable journey. The University’s support helped me grow both as an athlete and as a person, and I look forward to continuing to strive for excellence in sport.”

Chan Tsz Ching, a student in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition admitted through the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA), made history by winning bronze in the Women’s Sanda 52kg event, becoming Team Hong Kong’s first female wushu sanda medallist at the Asian Games. “Realising that I had secured a medal was even more emotional than standing on the podium itself,” she said. “It was a meaningful reward for the hard work of both myself and my team. Throughout the journey, PolyU’s flexibility and unwavering support enabled me to focus on training and competition while continuing my studies.”

Another historic milestone was achieved by Hung Ho Wai Howard, a graduate of the BSc (Hons) Scheme in Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health admitted through PolyU’s OSRS, who won bronze medals in both the Men’s Individual Kata and Men’s Team Kata events. His Individual Kata bronze marked Hong Kong’s first-ever Asian Games podium finish in a karate kata event. “Winning an Asian Games medal was a powerful affirmation that years of hard work, persistence and dedication were worthwhile,” he said. “At PolyU, I learned that every challenge has a solution if you stay adaptable, communicate well and work together with others. The University’s flexibility and support enabled me to balance my studies with my athletic career, giving me the confidence to pursue both goals wholeheartedly.”

Beyond the medals and records, the Games showcased the talent and sportsmanship of PolyU athletes representing Hong Kong. Whether making history, reaching the podium or achieving personal bests, they left their mark on Asia’s biggest sporting stage and made the PolyU community proud.

Find out more about our Asian Games medallists' inspiring journeys at PolyU.