https://www.scmp.com/rss/329091/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa On the first night of the Rolex China Sea Race – Asia’s premier offshore yacht race in March – Tiger Mok’s autopilot gave out 60 nautical miles off Hong Kong’s coast. The 565-nautical-mile journey from Victoria Harbour to the Philippines’ Subic Bay is the kind of challenge usually shared by a team of eight experienced sailors. For Mok, who had chosen to take it on solo, the autopilot was indispensable for rest, navigation and sanity. Without it, he’d have to steer by hand, meaning little to no... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3348350/hong-kong-sailor-tiger-mok-made-history-sea-after-his-autopilot-failed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3348350/hong-kong-sailor-tiger-mok-made-history-sea-after-his-autopilot-failed?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:15:10 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter “Should you be out here in such rough conditions?” is the kind of patronising comment women in outrigger canoeing still hear regularly – especially when they are part of a crew whose members are all above the age of 50. “The boat doesn’t care about your gender. It only cares that you show up and put in 110 per cent effort,” says Eva Lind-Mallo, 53, who was on a Masters team of six Hong Kong women who raced at the World Distance Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last year. “And in our ohana... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345509/these-hong-kong-women-are-showing-whats-possible-their-sports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345509/these-hong-kong-women-are-showing-whats-possible-their-sports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang China’s beloved “Diving Queen” Quan Hongchan has once again amazed her fans by being named Sports Person of the Year and making her magazine debut on the cover alongside other Chinese stars. On February 9, the country’s People magazine officially announced its 2025 cover line-up. It features eight phenomenal figures who made a significant impact in their respective fields in 2025. The line-up includes Quan Hongchan, Xin Zhilei, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Shu Qi, Shan Yichun, Liu Jiakun, Zhi Huijun and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343158/china-buzzes-diving-queen-quan-hongchan-named-sports-person-year-makes-magazine-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3343158/china-buzzes-diving-queen-quan-hongchan-named-sports-person-year-makes-magazine-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) president Johan Eliasch warned that the Winter Olympics should not be ‌diluted with novelty events, saying the Games must remain rooted in snow and ice – even ‍joking that water skiing would make more sense than some recent proposals. “I saw some videos of bicycles doing slalom in a slalom course,” Eliasch said. “Sure, you can invent anything, but quite frankly, water skiing would have more to do with ⁠the Olympic Winter Games than this. “At least... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3338963/water-skiing-would-make-more-sense-winter-games-novelty-events-snowboarding-boss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3338963/water-skiing-would-make-more-sense-winter-games-novelty-events-snowboarding-boss?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:24:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race have changed hands after the French-crewed original first-place yacht was penalised for breaking rules relating to sail use. Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal, based in New Caledonia, had the Tattersall Cup won after skippering the 35-foot BNC to the best time corrected on handicap. But race committee chairman Lee Goddard confirmed on Wednesday they had lost top spot after being given a time penalty of one hour and five minutes. The verdict means... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3338261/china-boat-honouring-min-river-takes-sydney-hobart-handicap-title-after-french-penalty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3338261/china-boat-honouring-min-river-takes-sydney-hobart-handicap-title-after-french-penalty?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Two French sailors based on the Pacific island of New Caledonia – one of them a former windsurfing Olympian – have overcome tough Sydney to Hobart seas on one of the fleet’s smallest boats to all but clinch handicap honours in the annual race. Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal arrived at Constitution Dock in Hobart on their 35ft yacht BNC on Tuesday morning after spending more than 93 hours at sea. They were the 33rd crew across the line but the first double-handed yacht, a craft sailed by just two... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3338183/sydney-hobart-race-french-sailors-2-person-yacht-set-handicap-honours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3338183/sydney-hobart-race-french-sailors-2-person-yacht-set-handicap-honours?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:59:35 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport For a moment on Sunday it looked as though SHK Scallywag 100 was going to win the 80th Sydney to Hobart race and consign the disappointment of 2023 to the history books. Having reeled in Master Lock Comanche, while holding off the challenge of LawConnect, the Hong Kong entry led for several hours down Tasmania’s east coast as the three yachts battled away within a mile of each other. But Comanche and LawConnect pulled clear, and with a breeze appearing on Storm Bay, David Witt and his crew could... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337925/hong-kong-boat-scallywag-100-briefly-leads-sydney-hobart-race-dropping-back-3rd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337925/hong-kong-boat-scallywag-100-briefly-leads-sydney-hobart-race-dropping-back-3rd?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 05:38:58 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Supermaxis Master Lock Comanche and defending champion LawConnect continued their close duel on Saturday on the second day of the 80th running of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Just over 27 hours into the race that began on Friday in Sydney Harbour and ends on the island state of Tasmania, Comanche had a four-nautical-mile lead over LawConnect. LawConnect was forced to contend with a broken mainsheet and halyard overnight but managed to fix both issues and remain in pursuit of Comanche, which... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3337883/supermaxis-comanche-lawconnect-continue-duel-sydney-hobart-race-hong-kong-boat-3rd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3337883/supermaxis-comanche-lawconnect-continue-duel-sydney-hobart-race-hong-kong-boat-3rd?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li A group of 12 paddlers from Hong Kong have become the first team from the city to complete the Hawaiki Nui Va’a – an annual three-day outrigger canoe race in French Polynesia and one of the world’s toughest ocean endurance events. The team, known as the Aloha Adventure Squad, spent eight months training before travelling to Tahiti in October for the event, which covers about 128 kilometres (80 miles) across four islands: Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora. Most of the squad met through the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3337848/12-hour-races-humpback-whales-12-man-hong-kong-canoe-team-make-pacific-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3337848/12-hour-races-humpback-whales-12-man-hong-kong-canoe-team-make-pacific-history?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Defending champion and 100-foot supermaxi LawConnect led the Sydney to Hobart fleet out of Sydney Harbour on Friday for the 80th running of the ocean race to the island state of Tasmania. LawConnect’s pursuit of a third straight-line honours title started well, with the crew claiming an early lead over supermaxi rival Master Lock Comanche after the cannon was fired. However, 12 hours in, record holder Master Lock Comanche had raced into the lead, with LawConnect pushed into second. Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337840/holders-lawconnect-leads-sydney-hobart-race-first-day-hong-kong-yacht-3rd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337840/holders-lawconnect-leads-sydney-hobart-race-first-day-hong-kong-yacht-3rd?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters British ‌sailor Ben Ainslie has finally secured the backing he needs for his 2027 America’s Cup campaign, announcing a deal ‍with Oakley Capital on Tuesday after what he admitted has been a stressful chapter in his mission to “bring the Cup home”. Ainslie’s Athena Racing team said a majority ownership investment from the British private equity group would provide “long-term financial stability to compete not only in the next America’s Cup but across multiple future cycles”. “Up ⁠until now,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337473/ben-ainslie-strikes-oakley-capital-deal-keep-british-americas-cup-bid-afloat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337473/ben-ainslie-strikes-oakley-capital-deal-keep-british-americas-cup-bid-afloat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:00:09 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter “Youth is overrated” is a mantra empowering open water swimmer Edie Hu to break records at 50 years of age. On November 20, the Hong Kong art dealer set off from the Disneyland Resort Pier to circumnavigate Lantau – Hong Kong’s largest island – in a tandem swim with friends Simon Holliday, 46, the founder of the Splash Foundation, and Brett Kruse. They were all attempting a world-first: no one had managed to circumnavigate the island before. A 12-strong support crew spread across a sailing boat,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334850/first-woman-swim-around-hong-kongs-lantau-island-defies-her-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334850/first-woman-swim-around-hong-kongs-lantau-island-defies-her-age?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan A surprise guest was at the Guangdong International Rowing Centre on Monday morning as Hong Kong’s Chiu Hin-chun and Winne Hung Wing-yan both fell just short of earning National Games medals. The city’s rowers each finished fifth in their respective lightweight single sculls finals before Thomas Bach, former president of the International Olympic Committee and a former Olympic gold medallist, showed up for a guided tour at the venue and greeted the athletes. “The former IOC president swung by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332139/national-games-hong-kongs-chiu-falls-just-short-bid-mens-rowing-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332139/national-games-hong-kongs-chiu-falls-just-short-bid-mens-rowing-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 02:52:42 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Hong Kong rower Chiu Hin-chun has been handed the honour of carrying the city’s flag in the opening ceremony of the National Games on Sunday. The 31-year-old will lead the delegation into the Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre, but will not be able to stay for the whole event because he has a final on Monday morning. Chiu said he had been given a week to get used to the idea that he would be the flag bearer for Hong Kong. “I am honoured, of course, to take part in the National Games and be selected... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332098/hong-kong-rower-chiu-honoured-carry-citys-flag-national-games-opening-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332098/hong-kong-rower-chiu-honoured-carry-citys-flag-national-games-opening-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 08:57:23 +0000 Mike Chan,Lars Hamer Mike Chan,Lars Hamer China’s diving starlet Quan Hongchan finished a disappointing fifth in the 10-metre synchronised event on Thursday and could only watch on as her Olympic partner took the No 1 spot in Guangzhou. Shanghai’s Chen Yuxi, who won gold in the same event with Quan in Paris last year, scored 350.22 points with Zhang Minjie at the Guangzhou Olympic Sports Centre. In second at the National Games competition were Sichuan’s Li Ruixi and Lu Wei with 322.44, while Jiangsu pairing Liu Junxi and Meng Zerui came... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331762/national-games-hong-kong-rower-chiu-hin-chun-qualifies-will-have-shot-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331762/national-games-hong-kong-rower-chiu-hin-chun-qualifies-will-have-shot-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 07:54:00 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Chiu Hin-chun believes his gold medal at the Asian Championships has proved his readiness for the National Games rowing events, which begin in Guangdong on Thursday. A confidence boosting triumph at the regional competition in the lightweight single sculls has the Olympian dreaming of more glory at the Guangdong International Rowing Centre. And while the 31-year-old’s focus will be on his main discipline, Chiu will also compete in the mixed doubles of a beach rowing event alongside younger... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331276/hong-kong-rower-chiu-hin-chun-taking-gold-plated-confidence-national-games-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331276/hong-kong-rower-chiu-hin-chun-taking-gold-plated-confidence-national-games-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 04:10:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Newly crowned National Games gold medallist Nicholas Halliday might not know where his next holiday will be, or how to spend his cash prize, but the Hong Kong sailor certainly knows what his next goal is. Halliday secured the ILCA 7 title by demonstrating some serious skills manoeuvring his dinghy in windy conditions around the coastal city of Shanwei over the past few days. And on Friday, the 26-year-old said he had some unfinished business with the Asian Games, after finishing fourth in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330956/hong-kongs-halliday-eyes-asian-games-glory-officials-say-he-can-be-world-beater?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330956/hong-kongs-halliday-eyes-asian-games-glory-officials-say-he-can-be-world-beater?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:16 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Sailing was never Nicholas Halliday’s first love, with his mother the driving force that initially got him onto the sea and on Wednesday made him a National Games gold medallist. The 26-year-old claimed the ILCA 7 title in the waters around the city of Shanwei, and then admitted it was on land that he felt most at home when he was a child. “At that time, I didn’t think I really liked sailing,” he said. “I enjoyed the feeling on the rugby fields and basketball courts more.” Halliday’s journey to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330910/reluctant-novice-games-gold-medallist-hallidays-journey-sea-tale-worth-telling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330910/reluctant-novice-games-gold-medallist-hallidays-journey-sea-tale-worth-telling?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:00:14 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong’s sailors and windsurfers put in some solid displays at the start of the second phase of their respective events at the National Games on Friday. All six sailors, including the likes of Nicholas Halliday, and men’s skiff pair Russell Aylsworth and Akira Sakai, were hovering around the top places, while windsurfer Cheng Ching-yin also put himself among the front runners after the opening day in the coastal city of Shanwei. Reigning Asian ILCA 7 champion Halliday did not need his best to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330254/solid-start-national-games-medal-charge-hong-kong-sailors-windsurfers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330254/solid-start-national-games-medal-charge-hong-kong-sailors-windsurfers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:30:14 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Head coach Chan King-yin said both of his windsurfers were fired up and ready for action ahead of the second phase of their National Games events in Shanwei on Friday. Having received a bye from the opening qualifying phase this week, Olympians Cheng Ching-yin and Mui Ma Kwan-ching will compete in the men’s and women’s iQFoil events, respectively, which run from Friday to next Tuesday at the Guangdong Ocean Sports Training Centre, with a medal race day to follow. “Both athletes are very... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330037/national-games-more-mature-hong-kong-windsurfers-ready-challenge-medals-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330037/national-games-more-mature-hong-kong-windsurfers-ready-challenge-medals-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong windsurfer Au Ling-yeung got his National Games adventure under way on Monday, and head coach Chan King-yin said his charge had made a decent start to the event in Shanwei. Competing in the first phase of the men’s iQFoil at the Guangdong Ocean Sports Training Centre, Au finished second and first in two of his four races, ending the opening day ranked third of the 14 athletes taking part. Windsurfing is part of the National Games’ sailing program, which is one of a handful of sports... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329706/national-games-hong-kongs-au-makes-good-start-windsurfing-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329706/national-games-hong-kongs-au-makes-good-start-windsurfing-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:30:26 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan From becoming the city’s first individual sailing athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games to winning Hong Kong’s first Asian Games individual medal in Hangzhou, Stephanie Norton said she still enjoyed being on the sea more than 15 years after picking up the sport. Winning Hong Kong’s maiden National Games sailing medal would complete a hat-trick of firsts for Norton, who began sailing because of her father, David, and older brother, Thomas. “I think sailing can be a little bit of a difficult... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3329554/unpredictability-sailing-buoys-olympian-stephanie-norton-ahead-national-games-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3329554/unpredictability-sailing-buoys-olympian-stephanie-norton-ahead-national-games-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 05:12:40 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan National Games debutant Peter Jessop has so much faith in his Hong Kong sailing teammate Nicholas Halliday that he is tipping him for gold at the multi-sport extravaganza later this month. The 17-year-old Jessop said on Wednesday that he hoped to emerge from the men’s single dinghy preliminaries to join the already qualified Halliday in the finals off the coast of eastern Guangdong province. But he had no doubts over the prospects for his role model, the reigning Asian champion Halliday. “For... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3328278/national-games-hong-kong-olympian-tipped-bring-home-sailing-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3328278/national-games-hong-kong-olympian-tipped-bring-home-sailing-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Chiu Hin-chun left the World Rowing Championships on Sunday, disappointed in his own performance and with a much clearer idea of the challenge he faces at the National Games in November. While the Hongkonger won his men’s lightweight single sculls B final in Shanghai on Saturday, leaving him seventh out of 16 competitors, China’s Gu Jiantao bested him in both the heats and semi-finals before finishing fifth in the A race. Chiu, a two-time Olympian, crossed the line in seven minutes, 7.33... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3327206/national-games-challenge-clearer-hong-kongs-chiu-after-rowing-championships-finish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3327206/national-games-challenge-clearer-hong-kongs-chiu-after-rowing-championships-finish?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Chiu Hin-chun said he was disappointed to have only made the B final for the men’s lightweight single sculls at the World Rowing Championships, after finishing fifth in his semi-final on Thursday. Advancing with the fourth fastest time in Tuesday’s heats, the Hongkonger crossed the finish line in seven minutes, 43.10 seconds, just ahead of Tunisia’s Ghaith Kadri in a pack of six rowers in Shanghai. “I was carrying a flu the entire time here, so I find it acceptable to turn in such performance,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3326778/world-rowing-championships-hong-kongs-chiu-hin-chun-b-final-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3326778/world-rowing-championships-hong-kongs-chiu-hin-chun-b-final-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:30:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong’s Chiu Hin-chun has eased into the semi-finals of the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, posting the fourth fastest time in Tuesday’s heats. Competing in the men’s lightweight single sculls, the Olympian clocked a time of seven minutes, 0.39 seconds to finish just outside the top three in Heat 2, enough to secure one of the 12 semi-final spots on Thursday. Austria’s Julian Schoeberl posted the fastest time, winning the second of three heats in 6:54.46. China’s Gu Jiantao, making... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3326566/hong-kongs-chiu-hin-chun-semi-finals-world-rowing-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3326566/hong-kongs-chiu-hin-chun-semi-finals-world-rowing-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:00:20 +0000 Teresa Bergen Teresa Bergen You don’t have to go all the way to Europe for an open-water swimming holiday. Here are a few closer to home: 1. Japan The Japan Open Water Swimming Adventure by Cross Country Swimming is based on Ojika Island. Guests take an overnight ferry from Fukuoka and stay in ryokans. The trip includes visits to cultural sites and cycling. Six days, A$4,000/HK$20,350 per person. crosscountryswimming.com 2. Indonesia A nine-day Indonesian trip with All Blue Swim Tours starts on Lombok and takes guests on... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323926/4-swim-holidays-around-asia-ojika-island-japan-lan-ha-bay-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323926/4-swim-holidays-around-asia-ojika-island-japan-lan-ha-bay-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:00:14 +0000 Teresa Bergen Teresa Bergen Breathing to the left, I glimpse the rocky Croatian coastline, heavily forested with squat pine trees. To the right, the teal waters of the Adriatic Sea. Below me, squishy sea cucumbers and spiny urchins dot the seabed. While the water looks tropical, its temperature is only about 20 degrees Celsius, comfortable as long as I keep moving. It is the first week of June and I am on a group trip with SwimTrek, a British-based company that leads swimming holidays around the world. We’ve all made our... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323914/open-water-swimming-through-croatias-islands-beginners-and-aficionados-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323914/open-water-swimming-through-croatias-islands-beginners-and-aficionados-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A Hong Kong surfing body has launched a petition urging the local government to relax its ban on the sport, saying doing so would allow the city to follow mainland China’s example of producing Olympic-calibre athletes. Bryan Ng Yu-fong, chairman and founder of the Hong Kong, China Surfing and Standup Paddle Association, said the petition had around 300 signatures and was aimed at highlighting community support and enabling discussions on how it could be safely practised in the city. Surfing is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3323694/hong-kong-surfers-urge-government-lift-beach-ban-so-they-can-become-olympic-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3323694/hong-kong-surfers-urge-government-lift-beach-ban-so-they-can-become-olympic-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:00:18 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter For almost 70 years, Rolex has maintained close ties with the world of yachting, supporting the most prestigious yacht clubs across the globe. But its connection runs deeper than ceremonial partnerships. It’s a relationship built on shared values – precision, performance and pushing the limits. Nowhere is this more visible than in the Rolex SailGP Championship, a high-octane, hi-tech regatta where national teams battle it out on identical foiling catamarans at jaw-dropping speeds, often within... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3321771/style-edit-rolex-sailgp-championship-prizes-sustainability-and-inclusivity-well-speed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3321771/style-edit-rolex-sailgp-championship-prizes-sustainability-and-inclusivity-well-speed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 01:59:18 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong’s Cheung Yat-lam is in with a chance of a gold medal at the World Games in Chengdu after winning his wushu semi-final bout on Monday. But fellow fighter Chan Tsz-ching was unable to do likewise in her event, while the city’s No 1 squash player Tomato Ho Tze-lok also let a golden chance slip away with a narrow semi-final loss. Hong Kong did not win a medal on Monday – the city’s first fruitless day since Thursday – but that will change on Tuesday, when all three Hongkongers compete for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3321450/world-games-china-win-2-more-gold-medals-through-freedivers-extend-lead-top-table?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3321450/world-games-china-win-2-more-gold-medals-through-freedivers-extend-lead-top-table?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:00:10 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Hong Kong secured its fourth World Games medal in Chengdu on Sunday, as Harry Cheng Chun-hin took bronze in the men’s wake surf skim event. Jett Lambert of the United States won gold at the Sancha Lake International Aquatics Centre, scoring 85 points from the judges, while China’s Zhuang Tiancai was second with 65.67. Cheng scored 59 points, just two more than fourth-place Thai athlete Bm Jomboon, to earn bronze. “Cheng claiming a medal in his debut on the world stage speaks volumes about Hong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3321368/world-games-wakesurfer-harry-cheng-wins-hong-kongs-fourth-medal-chengdu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3321368/world-games-wakesurfer-harry-cheng-wins-hong-kongs-fourth-medal-chengdu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Aug 2025 09:43:06 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Chinese divers went two for two in the diving at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Monday, winning gold in the men’s three-metre synchronised event and the women’s ten-metre synchronised. Monday’s medals meant China have won four golds from a possible five as their stranglehold over the sport showed little sign of slowing down. China started proceedings with diving duo Wang Zongyuan and Zheng Jiuyuan winning the 3m event with an impressive 467.31 points, but they were pushed all... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319857/world-aquatics-championships-chinese-duo-wang-zheng-win-mens-3m-synchronised-diving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319857/world-aquatics-championships-chinese-duo-wang-zheng-win-mens-3m-synchronised-diving?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:55:51 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China won both diving finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Sunday, continuing the country’s long-held dominance of the sport. There was gold in the mixed synchronised 10-metre platform and another in the men’s 1m springboard event. Zhu Yongxin and Xie Peiling, diving together at a major international meet for the first time, topped the mixed event with 323.04 points, finishing just ahead of North Korea’s Choe Wi-hyon and Jo Jin-mi, who scored 322.98. The Chinese pair were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319767/world-aquatics-championships-china-claim-trio-golds-continue-diving-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319767/world-aquatics-championships-china-claim-trio-golds-continue-diving-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:17:48 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A Hong Kong surfing coach claimed to be riding waves during Typhoon Wipha on Sunday, while the company he worked for advertised lessons with the tag line “the bigger the wave, the better it gets”. The decision to go into the water was called “absolutely ridiculous” by local surfers, with water sports banned in bad weather and the sport prohibited at public beaches all year round. Still, that did not stop Go Surf HK, a business that “provides professional ISA surfing lessons”, offering a 20 per... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3318894/hong-kong-surfing-coach-claims-hes-riding-wipha-waves-firm-criticised-t10-lessons-offer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3318894/hong-kong-surfing-coach-claims-hes-riding-wipha-waves-firm-criticised-t10-lessons-offer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 06:38:12 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer The Freediving World Championship opens in Japan on Wednesday with Hong Kong upping its representation this year to six divers, amid a boom in the sport. Tens of thousands of people each year across East and Southeast Asia alone have been taking up this mode of underwater diving – holding one’s breath rather than using scuba gear – encouraged by the region’s suitable seas and exposure such as Netflix’s The Deepest Breath documentary. Some competitions measure depth, but the action in Wakayama... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315637/amid-freediving-boom-hongkongers-hold-breath-world-title-quest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315637/amid-freediving-boom-hongkongers-hold-breath-world-title-quest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:22:59 +0000 Tim Pile Tim Pile Wingsuit flying Sometimes described as the closest humans come to true flight, Wingsuit flying is not for the faint-hearted, and to enrol in a training course a novice must already be an accomplished skydiver. Wearing fabric wings stretched between their arms and legs, these thrill-seekers steer with subtle shifts in body position like dive-bombing flying squirrels. One of the most dramatic locations in which the activity takes place is Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, in Zhangjiajie,... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3314795/wingsuit-flying-kitesurfing-and-other-daring-adventures-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3314795/wingsuit-flying-kitesurfing-and-other-daring-adventures-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Leanne Mirandilla Leanne Mirandilla “Bula!” The Fijian greeting is the first thing I hear as my car pulls up to the entrance of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. A woven necklace is placed around my neck and a fruity drink pressed into my hand as a guitar serenade starts up. “Welcome home.” Check into enough resorts and it might be easy for such receptions to feel run-of-the-mill – but there’s something in the wideness of my welcoming committee’s smiles that has me smiling back at the genuine warmth. “Bula” is the standard Fijian... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3313363/looking-luxury-eco-getaway-fiji-try-jean-michel-cousteau-resort-named-after-famed-oceanographer-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3313363/looking-luxury-eco-getaway-fiji-try-jean-michel-cousteau-resort-named-after-famed-oceanographer-its?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Jeremy Flores faced numerous challenges in the water as he carved himself a hugely successful surfing career, but nothing prepared the Frenchman for the tumultuous months that followed his retirement in 2021. Within months of stepping away from competition, Flores, the most successful male European in surfing history, was diagnosed with a brain tumour that turned his life upside down. He survived to tell the tale, after years of silence, in a new documentary, Dos au Mur (“Backs to the Wall”),... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3313347/how-champion-surfer-went-inoperable-brain-tumour-olympic-glory-leading-france?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3313347/how-champion-surfer-went-inoperable-brain-tumour-olympic-glory-leading-france?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:15:07 +0000 Mabel Lui Mabel Lui Sophia Lai Chi-lok is among Hong Kong’s most accomplished amateur triathletes. The 41-year-old investment banker has trained with the Hong Kong Triathlon National Squad and made the podium at 10km (6.2-mile) running races, triathlons and aquathlons – which comprise a swim and a run. She was the second woman across the finish line in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 10km race in 2022, and the 2023 Hong Kong Aquathlon Championship women’s champion. That year, she also took part in the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3312276/running-swimming-are-meditative-hong-kong-triathlete-and-open-water-swim-organiser?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3312276/running-swimming-are-meditative-hong-kong-triathlete-and-open-water-swim-organiser?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 23:45:08 +0000 A new exhibition dedicated to all things swimming has opened at London’s Design Museum. It features everything from an Olympic gold medal to the red bathing suit Pamela Anderson wore in Baywatch. “Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style” features more than 200 items that look at our love of water since the 1920s, be it at the lido, the pool or in nature. “The show explores the last century of swimming through the lens of design,” Amber Butchart, guest curator of the exhibition, said. “We begin... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3304239/bikinis-speedo-briefs-baywatch-bathing-suit-showcase-swimwear-and-swimming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3304239/bikinis-speedo-briefs-baywatch-bathing-suit-showcase-swimwear-and-swimming?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Mar 2025 06:45:07 +0000 Art month is officially here. As a newcomer to the city, it’s my first go-around on this hamster wheel of event madness. They weren’t wrong – it’s a lot. We’ve barely begun and already I feel like there’s art coming out of our collective ears. Even if you think art isn’t your “thing”, I entreat you to momentarily suspend your disbelief and embrace a new persona. Stop by a gallery, see a show. Hong Kong makes it easy. Last weekend, I finally sauntered over to a gallery in Central and was... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3300517/week-postmag-hong-kongs-art-month-ningxias-wineries-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3300517/week-postmag-hong-kongs-art-month-ningxias-wineries-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Mar 2025 04:45:08 +0000 With surfing now banned at all of Hong Kong’s 42 public beaches for safety reasons, board riders will have to venture further afield to pursue their passion. From beginner-friendly swells in Thailand to the powerful barrels of Indonesia, here are eight Asian spots that together offer something for every wave chaser. 1. Phuket, Thailand Aside from the monsoon season (May to October), Thailand isn’t renowned for monster barrels but there are plenty of places where waves roll relentlessly... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3293091/8-asian-surfing-spots-ride-waves-phuket-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3293091/8-asian-surfing-spots-ride-waves-phuket-sri-lanka?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jan 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Australian yacht Celestial V70 won the overall trophy for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Sunday after a blustery race overshadowed by the deaths of two sailors. Skipper Sam Haynes opened up the champagne after he and the crew were presented in Hobart with the prestigious Tattersall Cup, awarded to the overall victors after taking into account boat size and other factors. “We had really good conditions for this boat and also the crew that were the right guys,” said Haynes, who is commodore of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292660/celestial-v70-wins-overall-honours-blustery-and-tragic-sydney-hobart-yacht-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292660/celestial-v70-wins-overall-honours-blustery-and-tragic-sydney-hobart-yacht-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:00:14 +0000 Australian supermaxi LawConnect took back-to-back line honours in the Sydney-Hobart ocean race early on Saturday, leading a fleet shaken by the deaths of two sailors in wild weather. LawConnect, the 100-foot defending champion skippered by Christian Beck, arrived first in Hobart after main rival Comanche dropped out with a damaged mainsail on the first night. The crew navigated to victory along the final stretch of Tasmania’s River Derwent in the dark, early hours of the morning after a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292566/lawconnect-wins-back-back-line-honours-punishing-and-deadly-sydney-hobart-yacht-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292566/lawconnect-wins-back-back-line-honours-punishing-and-deadly-sydney-hobart-yacht-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Dec 2024 03:28:54 +0000 Two experienced sailors were killed in similar but separate incidents in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, organisers and local authorities said on Friday – the first loss of life in the prestigious ocean race since 1998. Race organisers said in a statement on their website that both crew members died after they were hit by the sail boom, a horizontal pole that holds down the sails and swings depending on the direction of the wind. New South Wales state police said they were told just before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292381/2-dead-separate-incidents-during-treacherous-sydney-hobart-yacht-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292381/2-dead-separate-incidents-during-treacherous-sydney-hobart-yacht-race?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Dec 2024 22:09:17 +0000 Favourites Master Lock Comanche and LawConnect took the early lead in the 79th running of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Thursday, as the supermaxis led the 104 boats out into the South Pacific. LawConnect, which won line honours last year in a thrilling finish by just 51 seconds, was first past the turning mark after cannons sounded at 1pm (0200 GMT). However, it soon ran into some sail issues, giving race-record holder Master Lock Comanche an unexpected advantage. Wild Thing 100, another... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292298/sydney-hobart-race-master-lock-comanche-out-front-early-79th-race-gets-under-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292298/sydney-hobart-race-master-lock-comanche-out-front-early-79th-race-gets-under-way?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Dec 2024 04:30:12 +0000 Skippers of the supermaxi yachts in the Sydney-Hobart blue water classic are bracing themselves for a fast start on Thursday and a wild first night at sea with gale-force winds forecast. A fleet of 105 will set sail from Sydney Harbour in one of the world’s great ocean races before they head down Australia’s east coast, then tackle the notorious Bass Strait towards the Tasmanian state capital, Hobart. In the final race briefing, meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said the boats could expect fine... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292223/sydney-hobart-race-skippers-get-set-fast-start-wild-first-night-gale-force-winds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3292223/sydney-hobart-race-skippers-get-set-fast-start-wild-first-night-gale-force-winds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Dec 2024 09:00:09 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification I refer to your editorial, “Public expects rises in bus fares to be fair” (November 20). While the public might expect the government to only permit bus companies to raise fares by a “fair” amount,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3287648/dont-want-bus-fares-hikes-then-fix-our-congested-streets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3287648/dont-want-bus-fares-hikes-then-fix-our-congested-streets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Nov 2024 03:30:08 +0000 In southern Pakistan, a young surfing community is determined to go professional, despite a lack of resources. With no access to shops or equipment, they often use discarded boards or resin and glue to make their own. Using videos to teach themselves, they are determined to reach Asian championships, and then the Olympics. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3287745/pakistani-surfers-determined-go-pro-despite-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3287745/pakistani-surfers-determined-go-pro-despite-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:34:29 +0000