Chan Tsz-ching shines on Asian Games debut with historic sanda bronze

Fresh off her Asian Games debut, Hong Kong’s Chan Tsz-ching claimed bronze in the women’s 52kg sanda event on Wednesday, securing a historic first medal for the city in the discipline.

Making her debut, Chan advanced to the semifinals after defeating opponents from Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan in straight rounds. With no bronze-medal playoff in sanda, her place in the last four had already guaranteed her a podium finish. 

Chan subsequently lost to Iran’s Sogand Sinkaeichetan in the semifinals, ending her bid for a place in the gold-medal bout.

Bangladesh’s Jinnat Akhter also secured bronze in the women’s 52kg category. 

Chan’s achievement marked a breakthrough for Hong Kong in sanda, also known as Chinese kickboxing, which combines punches, kicks and wrestling techniques.

The medal follows a strong showing by Hong Kong’s wushu team, which has already won one gold and one silver at the Games.

Fellow sanda athlete Leung Yu-hong has also secured at least a bronze medal after reaching the men’s 60kg semifinals, bringing the team’s guaranteed medal tally to four. 

Chan will receive HK$250,000 under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, which awards HK$1 million, HK$500,000 and HK$250,000 to individual gold, silver and bronze medalists, respectively.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽 ↓