Water polo enthusiast Gary Fung Kong-ching didn't let a little problem like a lack of teammates at Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary School stop him from taking part in the annual schools competition.
The Form Six student, who plays centre for Hong Kong's water polo team, decided to set up his own 'school' mixed team - comprising boys and from different schools, who were also unable to play because they lacked teammates.
His efforts led to them playing at last November's 12th HKASA School Invitational Championships.
'Water polo is a seven-a-side team sport,' Gary says. 'Many Hong Kong students are water-polo fanatics like me, but can't take part because their schools don't have enough players to form a team.
'I didn't want us to miss out playing in the competition, so I thought we should form a combined team of players from different schools; that way everybody could join in.'
Yet his plan generated such a positive response from his friends that he was able to form two teams. In the past, just a few schools that traditionally have had strong water polo teams played in the competition. But thanks to Gary's efforts, and the agreement of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association, four combined and mixed-gender teams - including two set up by him - also took part last year.
Although the results of the combined teams did not count in the final rankings, Gary was delighted to finally be involved.