HK handball team’s best-ever National Games finish sparks calls for better training facilities

Hong Kong men’s handball head coach Hui Man-pong has urged the government to provide a stable indoor training facility, saying players have long endured harsh outdoor conditions that increase the risk of injury and hinder their performance.

His appeal came after the team’s historic fourth-place finish at the National Games on Monday night — Hong Kong’s best-ever result in the event — despite falling 25–33 to Beijing in a hard-fought bronze medal match at the Kai Tak Arena.

“We’re not overly demanding. We don’t need to become an elite program at the Sports Institute,” Hui said.

“All we ask for is one fixed indoor handball court so our players don’t have to keep training under the sun and rain. Handball involves jumping and diving — practicing on hard outdoor courts has caused ligament injuries to many of our players. If we had a home court, I dare say we could win the championship.”

Despite the achievement, Hui said the team will continue outdoor training to prepare for the Asian Championships in January.

He added that most of the 16 athletes took unpaid leave or resigned from full-time jobs to represent Hong Kong.

“Their sacrifices won’t be in vain,” he said. “Even if the rewards aren’t immediate, this achievement has already inspired many fans to pay attention to Hong Kong handball. We’ve gained more than we’ve lost.”

Government pledges venue support

Speaking on a radio program this morning, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said the government had promised to provide as much support as possible for training venues.

“There are difficulties, but we’ll do our best.”

In a social media post after attending the match, Law praised the team’s performance, urging continued public enthusiasm and adding that officials would look for feasible ways to support the players’ training needs.

Handball association seeks permanent training space

Hong Kong Handball Association chairman Ho Chung-ho said the team’s strong showing was the result of years of preparation and thanked the government for its financial assistance.

He noted that while Hong Kong players rely on technical skills, mainland teams have the edge in strength, speed, and physical size — with northern Chinese players often standing over two meters tall.

While acknowledging the challenges of securing land, Ho said the government should consider providing one or two permanent indoor venues. A standard handball court, he explained, is roughly equivalent in size to three basketball courts.

“At present, the team lacks a consistent training site and often moves between districts or trains outdoors,” he said. “But outdoor hard courts increase the risk of injury because of the constant jumping and diving required in handball.”

Despite limited resources, the Hong Kong handball team’s determination — and its record-setting performance — have renewed calls for better support to help the sport continue its upward climb.

marco.lam@singtaonewscorp.com