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Mike Chan

Hong Kong’s tennis figurehead has resigned from his position after just eight months in the role.
Previously Finland’s national coach, Steven Host reported to the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association (HKCTA) as the director of player development, and the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) as a head coach.
Sources told the Post that Host “failed to execute the association’s directions”.
Hong Kong tennis chief, Michael Cheng Ming-git, acknowledged Host’s work and said there was “more structure and discipline” introduced to the training programme on his watch.
“Over the past two years, we have seen the rise of Coleman [Wong Chak-lam] and promising results at the junior level,” he said.
“We are achieving strong results in team events, not to mention the historic two medals from the National Games.

“Steven will be missed, but the backbone of the HKSI coaching team remains strong at all levels.”
The job of leading and organising the high-performance training programme of HKSI will now be taken on by Yoann Le Mee, as the acting coaching coordinator at the institute, following his appointment at HKCTA last July.
Frenchman Le Mee will, among other duties, focus on the city’s top men and women’s players, including the likes of Coleman Wong, who lost in the final Australian Open qualifying round this month, and Cody Wong Hong-yi.
Cheng, president of the HKCTA, added that the changes at the top were “a continuation of the tennis transformation strategy”.
“We are looking at the leadership bench more holistically as we begin the second term,” he said. “The first term was dedicated to observation and assessment; the second term is about disciplined execution.
“It’s tough, but we are adding resources to all departments, not trimming.”
The departure of South African Host was not the only senior management change at the association.
Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) supervisor Clare Wood will assume the role of director of international events and competitions from April 1.
Wood has supervised WTA tournaments of different levels, including leading 500 and 1,000 events, as well as being the sport manager for tennis for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
A three-time Olympian in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta, former British No 1 Wood is expected to oversee and manage the two ATP and WTA 250 events in the city, as well as international team competitions, including the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.

Wood, who oversaw the WTA Hong Kong tournament for the second time in 2024 and was full of praise for the event, will also have responsibility for the delivery of all local competitions.
Cheng has appointed Wilson Ng, a managing director at local Premier League club Kitchee for 12 years, as the new director of tennis administration and commercialisation.
Ng, who started on Monday, was handed tasks including ensuring effective delivery of commercial initiatives and youth development programmes, while also supervising multiple departments including the coaching administration.
“Getting Wood on board brings a breadth of international competition perspective that is key to shaping the national participation strategy, and building Hong Kong as a mega-event hub,” Cheng said.
“While Ng is crossing over from another sports discipline, we want to learn from the success stories of other sports, especially team sports.
“The two appointments are intended to give HKCTA a different vantage point.”
Hong Kong will host top seed Finland in a Davis Cup World Group I play-off tie at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium on February 7 and 8.
The winners will advance to the Davis Cup qualifiers first round, with the losers condemned to World Group II.


Hong Kong tennis head quits after 8 months as he ‘failed to execute association’s direction’

Hong Kong Tennis Open: China’s Wu and Shang join Rublev, Coleman Wong in line-up

Coleman Wong gets his wish to face Wu Yibing in National Games tennis semi-final

Hong Kong’s Wong enjoying return to tennis team environment, eases into second round

Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA)

Steven Host reported to the HKCTA as the director of player development, and the HKSI as a head coach. Photo: HKCTA

Hong Kong’s tennis chief, Michael Cheng, acknowledged Steven Host’s work. Photo: Nora Tam

Clare Wood is a three-time Olympian in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta. Photo: HKCTA

Young Hong Kong swimmer breaks Siobhan Haughey’s 12-year local short course record

Hong Kong swimmer Laura Wang Xintong broke Siobhan Haughey’s 12-year local short course record by nearly three seconds. Photo: Hong Kong Swimming Coaches Association

Lo Tsz-lam set a new men’s record for the city. Photo: Hong Kong Swimming Coaches Association

Hong Kong giants Kitchee christen new home in style, leaving champions Tai Po in muddle

Kitchee’s Cheng Chin-lung (right) in a jostle for the ball with Tai Po’s Marcao at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Sunday. Photo: Edmond So

Kitchee’s Leandro Martinez (right) stretches for the ball against Tai Po’s Fernando. Photo: Edmond So

Sport

Hong Kong

Tennis

Steven Host leaves role with president of the HKCTA stating that changes at top were ‘a continuation of the tennis transformation strategy’


Steven Host leaves role with president of the HKCTA stating that changes at top were ‘a continuation of the tennis transformation strategy’.


Steven Host

United States Tennis Association

Hong Kong tennis head quits after 8 months as he ‘failed to execute association’s direction’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Steven Host leaves role with president of the HKCTA stating that changes at top were ‘a continuation of the tennis transformation strategy’

Steven Host leaves role with president of the HKCTA stating that changes at top were ‘a continuation of the tennis transformation strategy’