As the 15th National Games is set to take place from November 9 to 21 in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, Hong Kong athletes shared their preparations at an event hosted by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group.
World Champion fencer Ryan Choi Chun-yin expressed his eagerness for the Games, saying he is currently in great form.
He shared that recent practice sessions with athletes from France and Japan have helped him regain his competitive edge. His training intensity has ramped up, with practices scheduled in Tokyo starting Friday.
Hong Kong will host eight events in the Games, with fencing scheduled from November 15 to 20 at Kai Tak Arena. Choi highlighted the significance of competing at home.
“Although competing in front of a home crowd adds pressure, it also brings joy. Winning a medal means a lot, especially being able to share that joy immediately with important people in my life,” he said.
Choi has set ambitious goals for both individual and team events, hoping to secure gold medals. “It’s been a while since our team achieved such good results, and winning a medal together with my teammates would deepen that joy,” he added.
He also shared his thoughts on the medal design, “If I win this medal, I would cherish it and perhaps display it in my cabinet,” he said.
As the exclusive jewellery sponsor, Chow Tai Fook is responsible for designing medals for the National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympics.
To showcase these symbols of achievement, the Group organised a medal exhibition running from October 9 to November 21 at the atrium of the Kai Tak Mall 2.
The exhibition features real medals, a stunning two-meter-tall oversized medal installation, and interactive zones for the public to experience events like fencing. It will also display the Chow Tai Fook Jewellery x National Games Collection and merchandise.
Max Lam Hung-shing, the general manager – Creative & Design at Chow Tai Fook and chief medal designer for the Games, described the medal design project as a “national-level project”, which is different from their usual jewellery design.
“We had to ensure that the medals encapsulated the history and cultural significance of the games, integrating elements from the Greater Bay Area,” he said, adding that over six months, the design evolved through more than ten iterations.
Named Tongxinyue, meaning “united leaps,” the medals weigh 354.5 grams and come in two designs for competition and mass participation events, featuring the Games’ emblem and the Chinese Dolphin Mascot.
Meanwhile, inline speed skater Vanessa Natalie Wong shared her journey leading up to the Games. After two surgeries for a collarbone injury, she expressed a mix of excitement and pressure. “The National Games will be my last international competition, so I want to give it my all,” she said.
“I’m confident heading into the mass participation events next week,” she said, adding her silver medal win at the 2025 China Roller Skating Championships as a confidence boost.
The roller sports events will take place in Huizhou from October 16 to 19. Wong will compete in two individual events and a relay.
Wong noted the growth of roller skating in Hong Kong, with more participants than ever this year. “It’s great to see a full team of four men and four women in the Games. I hope interest continues to grow,” she said, adding that her family and friends will support her in person next week.
