Hong Kong keen to host 2025 National Games golf events after Taichi Kho’s second place at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
- Golf association CEO Danny Lai hailed the performance of Kho and his teammates in Dubai, saying it would boost development of the sport
- Kho became Hong Kong’s most successful player at the elite amateur tournament after losing to Japan’s Keita Nakajima in a play-off
Hong Kong officials hope the city can host the golf tournament for the 15th National Games in 2025, after Taichi Kho and Alexander Yang performed brilliantly at the weekend’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in Dubai.
Danny Lai Yee-june, CEO of the Hong Kong Golf Association, said Kho’s thrilling runner-up finish at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, and Yang’s 13th place, were among the best performances by Hong Kong men at an elite international competition.
Lai attributed the performances to the association’s structured development programme. Other Hong Kong players taking part in the tournament were Leon D’Souza, Yue Yin-ho and Alex Zhuo Tianwei.
“This is a great day for Hong Kong golf,” Lai told the Post. “It shows what we have been working on in growing our local talent is going in the right direction.
“The five players who have done us proud in this tournament are from ordinary backgrounds. Their parents are super supportive. They are good in golf and academics too. If the Hong Kong government can give us more facility support the game will grow in the future. I hope we can host the 15th National Games golf event in Hong Kong in 2025.”
Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong will stage the next China National Games, and Olympic chief Timothy Fok Tsun-ting said he hoped the city would host the opening ceremony, cycling and swimming events.