Hong Kong concluded its participation in the 2023 Asian Games in Nagoya with a historic medal haul, underscoring both the achievements and challenges facing the city’s sporting landscape. Cado Lee Ka-to, a prominent athlete, had the honor of carrying Hong Kong’s flag during the closing ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, a symbolic moment as the delegation wrapped up its most successful Games to date.
The Hong Kong contingent, comprising 580 athletes, secured a total of 54 medals—one more than the city’s previous record set in Hangzhou. The tally included a record 11 gold medals, surpassing totals from the 2010 Guangzhou and 2018 Jakarta Games. Hong Kong also earned 19 silver and 24 bronze medals, reflecting both increased success and some shifts in podium finishes. These results generated approximately HK$37.5 million in rewards through the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s athlete incentive fund.
Sailing and windsurfing were standout disciplines in Nagoya, contributing four gold medals. Young athletes such as Wong Tsz-ho and Cheung Tsz-yuet emerged as champions in their respective categories, providing a hopeful contrast to less consistent performances in other sports. Despite these successes, the overall picture revealed disparities within the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s roster. Some sports, including rugby and fencing, maintained high standards, while others—most notably athletics—struggled to produce competitive results.
The city’s fencing program, traditionally a top performer, returned fewer medals and has faced challenges in replacing Olympic gold medalists Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai. Meanwhile, athletics is at risk of losing government funding due to a lack of medals and clear prospects, with officials considering structural changes to sustain the sport.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu acknowledged the athletes’ dedication and achievements through a social media post, emphasizing that their hard work demonstrates the potential for breaking limits through perseverance. Similarly, Wong Po-kee, chef de mission and honorary deputy secretary general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, emphasized that medal counts are not the sole indicator of success, noting that the development of athletes and competitive experience are also critical.
Emerging talent in swimming, such as Siobhan Haughey—who alone secured Hong Kong’s sole swimming golds—along with teenagers Yeung Hoi-ching and Gilaine Ma reaching finals, offer hope for future Games, particularly as senior athletes approach retirement.
Investment in elite sports remains substantial. Secretary for Culture, Tourism and Sport Rosanna Law Shuk-pui highlighted the government’s commitment to long-term projects in sports like tennis, which recently secured gold through Coleman Wong Chak-lam’s men’s singles victory. Wong himself noted the importance of competing beyond local and regional levels to face world-class opponents, a sentiment echoed by other athletes.
The men’s rugby sevens team capped their campaign with gold, a triumph underscored by captain James Christie’s remarks about the difficulty of maintaining top status amid fierce competition. Their success reflects years of preparation and the city’s broader ambition to nurture athletic excellence across disciplines.
As Hong Kong looks forward to the next Asian Games in Doha, officials and athletes alike face the task of balancing expectations, investment, and development to sustain and build upon the achievements realized in Nagoya.