National Games: tension, jeering and sleepless nights as Kai Tak hosts handball
Hong Kong take on feisty Anhui team in front of partisan home crowd, while Macau field a team of firemen, policemen and bankers
Kai Tak Arena came alive on Saturday night, but a fevered home support could not prevent Hong Kong’s fast and physical opening National Games handball clash ending in defeat by Anhui.
Although the venue was still less than half full for the hosts’ match, after just a few hundred spectators had turned up to be royally entertained by the opening three games, the local men’s side received noisy and incessant backing. The decibel levels peaked when Hong Kong drew level at 28-28 with six minutes remaining.
Anhui errors were cheered, and their infringements met with piercing whistles and jeers. A deathly hush descended when the provincial team found the net.
As they finally saw off Hong Kong’s resistance by a 34-29 margin, the Anhui players celebrated demonstratively, with a couple goading the home fans.
Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz, the city team’s head coach, said he was “happy and proud” after his team rallied following an opening half when they “showed signs of tension”.