Hong Kong's Wu Zi-tong Returns to Baseball for Nagoya Asian Games After 12-Year Hiatus
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Wu Zi-tong, a 34-year-old Hong Kong athlete and actor, is set to compete at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, representing Hong Kong in baseball after a 12-year absence from international competition. His selection comes as his acting career continues to flourish under the management of Louis Koo, with his breakout role as "12th Brother" in the blockbuster film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled in the City propelling him to unexpected stardom in Japan. The news coincides with the 10th anniversary of his debut film We Are on a Journey on April 25.
Key Points
- Wu Zi-tong was selected for the Hong Kong baseball team for the September 2026 Nagoya Asian Games, making his return to international competition after last representing Hong Kong at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games .
- He previously played for Hong Kong youth teams 20 years ago and competed alongside his brother Wu Zi-fung at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games .
- Wu made his acting debut in the 2016 baseball-themed film We Are on a Journey, winning Best New Actor at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards .
- After signing with Louis Koo in 2017, Wu appeared in films including The Grandmaster, Anita, and the Twilight of the Warriors series where his character "12th Brother" became a sensation in Japan .
- Japanese fans on social media have expressed excitement about Wu competing in Nagoya, with many planning to attend his games to show their support .
Why It Matters
Wu Zi-tong's dual career as both athlete and actor represents a rare convergence of sporting excellence and entertainment success in Hong Kong. His rising popularity in Japan through the successful Twilight of the Warriors franchise could help strengthen cultural ties between Hong Kong and Japan while showcasing Hong Kong's homegrown talent on both the athletic and cinematic stages. The 2026 Nagoya Games will provide a unique opportunity for Japanese audiences to support an actor they admire in his original role as a competitive athlete.
Wu Zi-tong's dual career as both athlete and actor represents a rare convergence of sporting excellence and entertainment success in Hong Kong. His rising popularity in Japan through the successful Twilight of the Warriors franchise could help strengthen cultural ties between Hong Kong and Japan while showcasing Hong Kong's homegrown talent on both the athletic and cinematic stages. The 2026 Nagoya Games will provide a unique opportunity for Japanese audiences to support an actor they admire in his original role as a competitive athlete.