Basketball player puts success down to chasing hoop dreams

The thumping of ball on concrete, the shouting and the odour of fresh sweat are unmistakable - Hong Kong's young basketball players in pursuit of their hoop dreams. For some, dreams come true.

'Basketball is an integral part of my life,' says Shum Chung, 19, shooting guard of the Eagle Team, which plays in Hong Kong's top league, A1, and recipient of the prestigious Bauhinia Bowl Outstanding Athletes Award for basketball. He says the sport is the only thing that has remained constant for him one year after graduating from Form Five.

Aside from training three times a week, Shum works as a primary school and recreation club basketball coach, personal trainer, and children's hobby group organiser.

He feels fortunate to be able to play with the best in Hong Kong. 'There must be hundreds of thousands of people in Hong Kong who would love to have the opportunities I've had', he says.

There has never been a point where he wanted to give up basketball; it is as important to him as family and friends. The jeers of his friends in primary school were Shum's driving force to put his all into basketball.

'I was one of the worst amongst my friends in primary six', he said.

Shum went on to captain New Man College's team to victory in all major secondary school basketball competitions in the 2002-2003 season. He then represented Hong Kong at numerous Asian competitions with impressive results.