Top student hits bull's-eye in DSE

Staff reporter

Super top scorer Paolo Chung Pak-lun's academic prowess is complemented by his passion for a unique sport - darts.

The 17-year-old high achiever from La Salle College had a remarkable run in this year's Diploma of Secondary Education exams.

He obtained the highest 5** grade in six subjects and a pass in the new citizenship and social development subject.

Chung also got top marks in the extended component of mathematics, making it seven 5** and him the super top scorer.

Chung discovered his love for the game at the age of 12 after watching darts videos online.

The game gave him much-needed respites and paid off while preparing for the DSE exams.

"I didn't think of any goals at that time, I just thought [playing darts] was fun," Chung said in an interview with Sing Tao Daily,The Standard's sister publication.

During rigorous preparations for the exams, Chung would spend up to 15 hours a day revising with friends at the Science Park in Sha Tin.

However, he made sure to spend 10 to 15 minutes every night at the sport, finding the sound of the darts hitting the board to be "healing."

Chung's journey with darts has not been without challenges.

He recalled a situation in secondary three, when he was unable to even throw a dart during a competition due to immense stress.

The experience taught him a valuable lesson: stay relaxed and face stress with optimism.

"I am the one who defines my roles," he said, reflecting on his newfound perspective. "I can stay relaxed and communicate with others when playing sports, so I didn't do it just for the scores."

Acing it in the DSE exams means Chung gets to read economics, finance and data science at Imperial College London in September.

However, he plans to continue with his favorite pastime, and Britain may just suit him to a tee given its surfeit of the pursuit in pubs and other places of leisure.

For his achievements, Chung has been appointed a promotional ambassador by the Darts Federation of Hong Kong, China, until March 2026 on the hope that he will be a role model for local youths.

The federation has called for government support to ensure the sport's continued growth and professionalism in the region.