Tokyo Olympics: badminton body takes blame for Angus Ng’s black jersey and missing Bauhinia as politicians and fans rush to his defence
- The 27-year-old was ‘condemned’ by DAB’s Nicholas Muk for attire in Games opener when he wore black – the preferred colour of 2019 protesters – and was missing Bauhinia emblem
- The HKBA vows to improve communication channels to ensure there is no repeat of the controversy, urging fans to continue supporting the players
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A statement from the governing body on Sunday night came hours after fans and politicians rushed to defend the 27-year-old, who was forced to explain himself on social media – saying he was without a sponsor and wore his own clothes. Ng was condemned by Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) member Nicholas Muk, who said on Facebook that the player should withdraw if he did not want to represent Hong Kong.
“At this time, the public’s attention to Ka-long’s jersey is indeed a problem in the communication between the badminton teams,” said the HKBA. “We can do better. We are working hard to deal with it.”
Muk was outraged that Ng chose black – the preferred colour of protesters during the 2019 anti-government demonstrations – and that Hong Kong’s Bauhinia crest was missing. Other Hong Kong badminton players were wearing dark blue and red Yonex outfits, with the Hong Kong Olympic Committee (HKOC) the saying choice of uniform is arranged by the governing bodies or the athletes.
The HKBA said it was in touch with the Home Affairs Bureau, which pledged to review and improve communication between apparel makers and sporting bodies. The HKOC secretariat in Tokyo said it would help eighth-seeded Ng wear a jersey with the Bauhinia flag for his next match, which has yet to be scheduled.
“We hope that the incident will not have any impact on Ka-long’s participation,” the HKBA said. “We are grateful to the public for their continued support. Please continue to cheer for the Hong Kong badminton team, let them concentrate on the game and win glory for Hong Kong.”
Ng said he was not allowed to place the Bauhinia flag on his apparel on his own but promised to fix it ahead of his next match.
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Muk’s fellow DAB member, Ho Chun-yin, urged the Home Affairs Bureau to find out if Ng’s plight was a budget issue, while executive councillor Ronny Tong Ka-wah sarcastically suggested Ng stop wearing black to “avoid some people having heart attacks”. The Civic Party chairman Alan Leong Kah-kit urged Ng to ignore his critics and focus on his matches.
“Rumours stop being spread when heard by wise men,” said Leong on Facebook. “You can just ignore them. Ka-long, please focus on the game, enjoy the game, and win glory for Hong Kong!”
Muk initiated the controversy when he hit out at the player in a Facebook post. Ng said he was simply wearing outfits that he felt comfortable in.
“Many of my fans and friends are so curious about why I am wearing this Lululemon jersey on court today, so I would like to clarify it here,” Ng wrote on Instagram. “My sponsorship with Yonex has ended, and I am currently a free agent, therefore I have to prepare my own clothes for the competition. I choose the clothes that I feel comfortable to wear.”
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Writing a follow-up post to address his critics, Ng said: “I know many people are very concerned about my jersey because it’s not my previous brand. I need to print my name but I am not authorised to print the flag, so I can’t print the flag on my clothes privately.
“I have always been proud representing [Hong Kong] and I love the Bauhinia from the bottom of my heart. I have dealt with it in Tokyo and I hope to fix it before the next game.
“Finally, I hope everyone will focus on the performances of athletes at the Olympics and not on my shirt. Thank you all for your support and care.”
In his initial post, Muk wrote: “Strongly condemn Ng Ka-long, a member of the Hong Kong Badminton Team, who is wearing a non-regional flag to represent Hong Kong, China! The other players in the mixed doubles match are all wearing neat uniforms with the regional flag! If you do not want to represent Hong Kong, please choose to withdraw!”
“The uniforms worn by athletes at the Olympic competitions is handled by their associations or the athletes,” a spokesman for the Hong Kong delegation told the Post.
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Hong Kong fans threw their support behind Ng via online messages, with one respondent asking why Muk did not stitch a China emblem on to one of his Western suits. The Hong Kong branch of American-Canadian apparel company Lululemon was delighted that the player chose their brand.
“We are grateful that our gears make you feel great and support your goals on court. We are rooting and cheering for you, you have our back! Go Ka Long,” the company replied through their verified Instagram account.
Hong Kong coach Tim He Yiming told local media that Ng had not broken any rules in his choice of clothes for matches.
“The Hong Kong delegation has its own costumes because the Olympics is a single event,” he was quoted as saying. “Athletes wear clothes provided by their sponsors. Ka-long has explained clearly that it is OK for him to print his name and regional name on his clothes, but the regional flag is not arbitrarily printable.
“At the same time, the Olympic Games have strict regulations and requirements on the size of the clothes. But there are no regulations on the regional flag and national flag. This is what everyone needs to know, so Ka-long has not fallen foul of the rules, otherwise he would not be able to play at all.”
Additional reporting by Natalie Wong
