Hong Kong roar to National Games quarter-final win against ‘overwhelmed’ Guangdong
City’s handball team reach semi-finals for first time, poised for Kai Tak Arena clash with Anhui at 6pm on Saturday
Coach Hui Man-pong praised his Hong Kong players’ “dedication, hard work and relentlessness”, after they beat Guangdong 28-26 at Kai Tak Arena to set up a blockbuster National Games handball semi-final with Anhui on Saturday.
Eight different players were on the scoresheet for the hosts, who were inspired by a crackling home support on Friday and never relinquished their advantage after moving 3-2 ahead in the eighth minute.
Hong Kong’s previous best Games performance was their sixth place in 2017.
“This feels so unreal I’ve fantasised about this moment many times in my heart, but when it actually happened, I still couldn’t believe it was real,” Hui said.
“An even stronger feeling is just how dedicated, hard working and relentless our players were. They fought until the very last second. That part is truly profound.”
Hui said that without the partisan home support his side “might have cracked under the pressure in the last five minutes”.