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SCMP Sport

We are going to get into the thick of things in the National Games on Wednesday, and there is plenty happening to keep everyone entertained.
Hong Kong’s men’s rugby sevens team begin their march to what feels like an inevitable gold at Kai Tak Stadium, with the city’s women also fancying their chances of grabbing a medal.
Over in Shenzhen, Siobhan Haughey takes to the pool for the first time. And in Zhuhai, tennis’ Coleman Wong Chak-lam will learn who his first opponent will be.
Here, then, is your guide to day three.

Haughey’s back
Which Siobhan Haughey will we see at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre, after her break earlier this year and an injury-hit summer? A 28-year-old whose powers are waning, or a rejuvenated star who is ready to build towards another Olympics?
The truth, we just don’t know. There is little evidence of how she has been doing since a back problem prompted her to pull out of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July.
But a performance 11 days ago in the relatively safe surrounds of the Hong Kong Age Group Long Course Championships holds a clue. There, she finished her 100 metres freestyle heat in 53.48 seconds, quick enough to have qualified for the world final over the summer and her fastest time since the Paris Olympics, where she won bronze in 52.33.
Haughey’s 200m freestyle heats are scheduled to start at 9.09am, with the semi-finals to follow at 8.04pm.
Gold-plated?
Hong Kong’s men are nailed on to win rugby gold, right? Well, not necessarily. They have not played in this competition since 2013, when they lost in the final to Shandong, who have gone on to dominate the event.
Champions ever since, the province is the force in mainland rugby, providing 13 of the 19 players in the men’s national squad last season, and four of the 12-strong women’s squad who finished sixth at the Paris Olympics.
Still, with the amount of money pumped into the city’s rugby programme in the past several years, anything bar winning would be considered a massive disappointment.
Hong Kong’s women take on their Shandong rivals in Group D at 1.30pm, with the men facing the same fixture at 4.30pm. The first match at 1pm has Sichuan’s women against Shanghai, also in Group D, with a men’s Group A clash between Shandong and Inner Mongolia ending proceedings at 8.30pm.

GBA derby
Not exactly Los Angeles Dodgers v Toronto Blue Jays, but if you need a baseball fix after a World Series for the ages, then the Group B match between Hong Kong and Guangdong at Zhongshan International Baseball and Softball Centre should do the trick.
We’re calling it a Greater Bay Area derby and Hong Kong’s happy band of amateurs get their tournament under way at 2pm.
Wondering what sort of commitment it takes to do this and a full-time job? Here’s second baseman Egon Chan Cheuk-kiu: “I use all my time off for baseball and haven’t travelled on holiday for about five years. We have two or three tournaments a year, and afterwards I often find I have no leave left. I say sorry to my family, but it’s what I choose.”
News for Coleman
We should hear who will play whom in the first round of the men’s and women’s tennis singles, with the draw set to take place on Wednesday.
Hong Kong’s Wong has medalled before at a multi-sport event, when he earned bronze at the World University Games in Chengdu two years ago.
The 21-year-old will target another podium spot when he gets his tournament started, which depending on the draw will either be on Thursday or Friday.
Equestrian finalist
Hong Kong’s Annie Ho Yuen-yan, riding Lord Sandro K, earned a place in Wednesday’s dressage individual final by finishing fifth in qualifying on Tuesday with 66.853 points.
Ho was due to compete in the freestyle routine in Shenzhen at 8am.
Football decider
The football fixtures have been taking place since the start of the month in Guangdong, and the host province features in Wednesday’s men’s under-20 final, facing Hubei in Shenzhen.
That game kicks-off at 7.45pm.


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National Games day 3 planner: Siobhan Haughey and rugby sevens centre stage for Hong Kong

Siobhan Haughey is back and will race in the 200m freestyle on Wednesday. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong’s men are firm favourites to win gold in the rugby sevens at the National Games. Photo: HKCR

Hong Kong’s baseball players face Guangdong in their opening game. Photo: Handout

National Games: Hong Kong’s pairs table tennis medal hopes over, Chen Meng storms to win

Hong Kong’s Wong Chun-ting (right) and Doo Hoi-kem in action during their mixed doubles quarter-final in Macau. Photo: Xinhua

Chen Meng had not played since winning Olympic gold in Paris. Photo: Xinhua

Fans flock to beach volleyball finals in Hong Kong for fun, sand and something different

Jiangsu teammates Wu Jiaxin (right) and Zhou Chaowei celebrate a point during their men’s final against Li Zhuoxin and Xue Tao of Liaoning. Photo: Xinhua

Gold medalists Wu Jiaxin (left) and Zhou Chaowei celebrate winning gold with their coach. Photo: Xinhua

The specially built beach volleyball venue in Victoria Park. Photo: Eugene Lee

Sport

Hong Kong

City’s big hitters enter the fray, with its most decorated Olympian swimming in Shenzhen and the rugby kicking off at Kai Tak Stadium


City’s big hitters enter the fray, with its most decorated Olympian swimming in Shenzhen and the rugby kicking off at Kai Tak Stadium.


Hong Kong China Rugby

Kai Tak Sports Park

Siobhan Haughey

National Games day 3 planner: Siobhan Haughey and rugby sevens centre stage for Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City’s big hitters enter the fray, with its most decorated Olympian swimming in Shenzhen and the rugby kicking off at Kai Tak Stadium

Haughey’s back

City’s big hitters enter the fray, with its most decorated Olympian swimming in Shenzhen and the rugby kicking off at Kai Tak Stadium