The Hong Kong Golf Association wants to add a junior tournament to the National Games when the city co-hosts China’s biggest multi-sport occasion in 2025.
Although officials have not yet announced where events will be held, golf is almost certain to be located in Hong Kong, which is staging the Games with Guangdong and Macau.
Danny Lai Yee-june, the association’s CEO, said they had agreed to the inclusion of a junior category with their counterparts across the border.
“There are many talented young golfers in Hong Kong and different provinces across the mainland and we should give them the opportunity at such a high level competition like the National Games,” Lai said.
“The final decision will have to be made by the State General Administration of Sport, but suggestions made by the hosts will always be considered.”
In previous years golf has been contested by men and women in individual and team competitions, with four gold medals up for grabs. The addition of a junior tournament would double that number.
Lai said Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, which is staging three large events this year, would be the ideal location for the golf competition.
Hong Kong won a men’s team silver at the 2013 National Games in Tianjin and Jason Hak just missed the podium at the last Games in Shaanxi when he finished fourth in the individual event.
A strong junior contingent would give Hong Kong a good chances of winning medals in 2025, with the likes of Sophie Han and Arianna Lau, both of whom are 15, still going to be eligible.
Han finished third in this year’s national Junior Golf Classic, while Lau was a member of the Hong Kong team that finished seventh at the 2023 Queen Sirikit Cup last month.
In the junior boys, 12-year-old Darren Zhou won the 14-15 category at this year’s Rio Pinar Junior Open, and topped the 11-12 age group at the FCG Callaway World Championship in 2022.
There could be as many as eight sports for the 2025 Games held in Hong Kong, including cycling, fencing, rugby and football, but the government has yet to provide any details.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kwLG70a1moKecm3yivtOimqWdX2h%2Fcn6QbG5oamBngm66wK2gqKaRoXqorcyeqmagn6O0brfOp55mn5%2Bhs26t0qymnKGRqbawuoytmKuflanAbq3DnaCtoZ%2BjeqvBzaKmq2WkpMKzusCmnKes