Hong Kong Rugby Veterans Eye Final Asian Games Berth as Team Targets Historic Three-Peat
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's men's rugby sevens team is gearing up for the Asian Games in Nagoya from October 1-3, with veteran players Li Ka-to and Fang Jiefeng both targeting what could be their final Games roster. The squad is aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal, having won titles in 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and 2022 Hangzhou. Li, 34, is recovering from surgery on his left big toe while Fang, 29, is nursing a similar injury sustained during training. The team has been drawn in Group A alongside China, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan, with arch-rivals Japan in Group B .
Key Points
- Li Ka-to, 34, is recovering from left big toe surgery and hopes to become a "four-time Asian Games veteran" if selected .
- Fang Jiefeng, 29, suffered torn ligaments during wrestling training two months ago and underwent surgery, now targeting full recovery .
- Hong Kong won historical National Games gold in November 2023, defeating China 26-19 at Kai Tak stadium .
- The team will compete in the Asian Rugby Sevens Series first leg in Suzhou on September 29-30 before the Asian Games .
- Li and Fang both consider the Nagoya Games their "first and last" Asian Games, adding emotional weight to their selection bids .
Why It Matters
A third consecutive Asian Games gold would cement Hong Kong's dominance in regional rugby sevens and provide crucial momentum for future Olympic qualification campaigns. Winning on Japanese soil against the host nation would be particularly symbolic for the squad's confidence heading into the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle . The strong performance of young players, combined with the experience of veterans like Li and Fang, reflects the team's deep talent pool and continued strength in the sport.
A third consecutive Asian Games gold would cement Hong Kong's dominance in regional rugby sevens and provide crucial momentum for future Olympic qualification campaigns. Winning on Japanese soil against the host nation would be particularly symbolic for the squad's confidence heading into the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle . The strong performance of young players, combined with the experience of veterans like Li and Fang, reflects the team's deep talent pool and continued strength in the sport.