Hong Kong athletes get Paris Paralympics underway with boccia, swimming on first day of Games
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong athletes across four sports, including boccia and swimming, will take the stage at the Paralympics on Thursday as the global sporting event kicks off in Paris.
The opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games took place on Wednesday night Paris time, with Paralympic medallists badminton player Chan Ho-yuen and table tennis player Wong Ting-ting chosen as flag bearers for the city’s delegation. Both athletes won bronze at the Games in Tokyo three years ago.
The city has 23 athletes competing in the Paralympics across eight sports: archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, equestrian, swimming, table tennis, and wheelchair fencing.
Nine athletes will compete on Thursday, the first day of the Games. Boccia players Leung Yuk-wing – who has won six Paralympic medals, including two at the Tokyo Games – as well as Cheung Yuen, Tse Tak-wah, Yeung Hiu-lam and Ho Yuen-kei will be among the first to take the stage.
In swimming, athletes Chan Yui-lam and Cheung Ho-ying will compete in the 100-metre butterfly category. Shooter Ngai Ka-chuen and badminton player Chu Man-kai, who won silver at the Tokyo Games, will also feature on Thursday.
The Olympic Games closed earlier this month with the Hong Kong team bringing home a historic two gold and two silver medals, marking the first time the city had won more than one gold medal at the same Olympics.
See also: Explainer: How much do Hong Kong’s athletes and para-athletes earn?
Fencers Vivian Kong and Edgar Cheung triumphed in the women’s individual épée and men’s individual foil, while swimmer Siobhan Haughey secured bronze in both the women’s 200-metre freestyle and 100-metre freestyle.
With the time difference between Hong Kong and Paris, the city’s shopping malls that were broadcasting the Games saw Hongkongers streaming in at odd hours of the night to cheer on their favourite athletes.
Paralympic athletes have said that they hope Hong Kong people can continue to support the team at the Paralympics with the same enthusiasm.
At the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago, the Hong Kong won five medals – two silvers, one in boccia another in badminton, and three bronze medals in boccia, table tennis and badminton.
The Paralympics will run until September 8.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.