Huo Qigang: "The number of medals for the Hong Kong team is expected to surpass the previous edition."
The 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou will be held from September 23 to October 8, and Hong Kong, China will send the largest ever delegation to participate. The head of the Hong Kong delegation and Vice President of the Hong Kong Sports Association and Olympic Committee, Huo Qigang, stated today that Hong Kong athletes and accompanying personnel are ready and believe that the Hong Kong team is expected to surpass the results of the previous Jakarta Asian Games.
Hangzhou makes Hong Kong team athletes more adaptable
Huo Qigang stated that the postponement of this year's Asian Games due to the pandemic has given Hong Kong athletes more preparation time. Moreover, in recent years, the SAR government has actively encouraged athletes to participate abroad, increasing competition opportunities and achieving impressive sports results. They have won numerous awards at the World Championships and Asian Championships, and their performance has continued to improve. It is believed that the number of medals at this Asian Games can be surpassed.
He also mentioned that since the current Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, it will make the athletes of the Hong Kong team more adaptable in terms of climate, food, accommodation, and other aspects.
At the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, the Hong Kong delegation of China won a total of 46 medals, including 8 gold, 18 silver, and 20 bronze, setting the best record in the event.
Hong Kong men's basketball team qualified for the Asian Games
![Huo Qigang: "The number of medals for the Hong Kong team is expected to surpass the previous edition."](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/2bca2cf8dc2f50c0ed4efffb12f6be55.jpg)
On the 16th, the Hong Kong Association and Olympic Committee announced that due to the withdrawal of the Lebanese men's basketball team, the Chinese Hong Kong men's 5-man basketball team has qualified to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games and has notified the Hong Kong Basketball Association of China.
It is understood that the Hong Kong men's basketball team was excluded from the competition schedule due to the cancellation of the qualifying rounds during the restructuring of this Asian Games. Since the 1958 Tokyo Asian Games, the Hong Kong men's basketball team has competed in a total of 16 Asian Games.
Regarding being able to regain the qualification for the Asian Games, Huo Qigang responded that the association has been striving for relevant parties since learning of the change in the nomination method. Being able to regain the qualification for the competition is a belated good news.