Teacher and student to carry Hong Kong flag at Asian Para Games
Para taekwondo player Yeung Siu-ki and para runner Katie Wong Wing-hei will carry the Hong Kong flag at the Asian Para Games opening ceremony on Sunday. The duo, who are teacher and student, were named flag bearers on Thursday as Hong Kong sends 80 athletes to compete in 10 sports.
Para taekwondo player Yeung Siu-ki and para runner Katie Wong Wing-hei were named flag bearers for the Hong Kong delegation on Thursday for the Asian Para Games, which begin on Sunday (Oct 18).
Hong Kong is sending 80 para athletes to compete in 10 events at the Games. Some representatives, including wheelchair fencing players and swimmers, departed on Thursday morning.
Yeung, the first para taekwondo player to represent Hong Kong and Wong's teacher, said being chosen together made the honour especially meaningful. "I never imagined I would be chosen as a flag-bearer. I'll be there at the opening ceremony, supporting everyone with my teacher," Wong said.
Chef de Mission Jim Luk Tze Chung said this is the first time Hong Kong has sent representatives to compete in taekwondo at the Games. "Furthermore, the two candidates come from the same school. Having both a teacher and a student take part in the Asian Para Games demonstrates the government's strong support for the development of sports for persons with disabilities," Luk said.
Yeung lost function in his right hand due to nerve damage in 2017. He had previously participated in softball, track and field, gymnastics and taekwondo in his youth. At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Yeung competed in the high jump because of a lack of local para-taekwondo facilities. He began training in para taekwondo in March and qualified for the Asian Para Games in just seven months.