Hong Kong athletes describe pressure of success as privilege at Asian Games
Quick Look
Hong Kong's Asian Games gold medallists Siobhan Haughey, James Christie, and Coleman Wong Chak-lam discussed the pressure of success, calling it a privilege, as Wong secured Hong Kong's first-ever men's tennis gold and the rugby sevens team won their third consecutive title by defeating China 26-0 in the final.
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Why It Matters
Hong Kong had never won a medal in men's tennis at the Asian Games before Coleman Wong Chak-lam's victory, and the men's rugby sevens team had not lost at the Games since their 2014 final defeat by Japan.
There has been a common theme running through Hong Kong’s Asian Games gold medallists when it comes to talking about the pressure of being on top: Siobhan Haughey and James Christie both referred to it as a privilege, and it would not be a surprise to discover it is an entirely alien concept to Coleman Wong Chak-lam.
Before Saturday, Hong Kong had never won a medal in men’s tennis at the Games, let alone gold. Faced with making history, adding another title to the city’s growing collection and securing a spot at the Los Angeles Olympics in two years, Wong did not even blink while wrapping up a straight-sets victory against Wu Yibing.
Neither did the men’s rugby sevens team, who won their competition for the third straight time. In a seemingly inexorable march to the final over the course of three days, Hong Kong outscored their opponents 200-14, and then just for good measure thumped China 26-0 to win gold.
Without peers in Asia, they have not lost at the Games since being beaten 24-12 in the 2014 final by Japan, and captain Christie said his side now wanted to be “bigger in the world”.
Open Questions
- What specific training or support contributed to Coleman Wong's historic tennis victory?
- How will Hong Kong's rugby sevens team build on their third consecutive Asian Games gold to become 'bigger in the world' as captain James Christie stated?
