Basketball is growing fast in the region - but not in Hong Kong

The state of basketball in Hong Kong - and its future - is starkly illustrated by the national team's prospects at the Asian Games. They face likely elimination before the event officially begins and will probably be quickly forgotten.

Great expectations do not extend to this sport - one of 31 in the record Hong Kong contingent at the Games - and the local league is to blame, says towering forward Fong Shing-yee.

Fong, 30, will be taking part in his third Asiad and says the result is likely to be the same - elimination in the qualifiers, which are to tip off on September 20.

"The team have only gathered since August, with two training sessions a week. It would be a big achievement if we could get past the qualifying round this time.

"But even if we reached the main draw, I don't think too many people would care. Like many other previous major Games, we just go there, do a job and return home without making any big noise," said Fong, who plays for champions Winling. "This will be my third Games, but to be honest, I don't have any great expectations," said Fong, who has spent 10 years in the A1 Division, the top tier in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong have been drawn against Mongolia, Kuwait and Maldives in the qualifying round in Incheon where the top two teams go through to the main draw. Mongolia are one of the fast-growing teams in the region while Kuwait, like many other teams from the Middle East, are always tough opponents.