Hong Kong gymnastics and trampoline athletes pose for a group photo with their coaches before heading to the Hangzhou Asian Games, on 22 Aug 2023. (ZHU WEIJIE / CHINA DAILY)

Having motivated their physical and spiritual state to the best of their ability, eight Hong Kong gymnasts on Tuesday said they are ready to reach for the top eight places and even medals at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games.

The 19th Hangzhou Asian Games will be held from Sept 23 through Oct 8. Hong Kong will send its largest-ever Asian Games delegation, including over 860 athletes, to the event.

The eight gymnasts — five men and three women — will compete across five events: rings, vault, balance beam, all-around, and trampoline.

At a media briefing on Tuesday, Xiong Songliang, head gymnastics coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, said he is confident the team will display remarkable performances that will satisfy Hong Kong residents.

In July, Chan Cheuk-lam, who will compete in the women’s all-around event, withdrew from the 2021 Summer World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan province, due to injury. Recovered and in good condition now, Chan said she is aiming for the top eight in Hangzhou

Chan Cheuk-lam, who will compete in the women’s all-around event, said that this will be her debut at the Asian Games, and she is thrilled to participate in such a large-scale event.

In July, Chan withdrew from the 2021 Summer World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan province, due to injury. Recovered and in good condition now, Chan said she is aiming for the top eight in Hangzhou.

Chan said that the Asian Games event is of great significance as it provides a valuable opportunity for athletes to learn from each other.

Chan spent a short amount of time practicing with the Chinese national gymnastics team, and she believes the intense and compact training in the national team will help propel Chinese gymnasts to success.

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Chan also said that Hangzhou is a city renowned for its beautiful scenery, and she plans to indulge in sightseeing and explore the city’s attractions after the competition.

This will be the fourth Asian Games for Rings athlete Ng Kiu-chung and also his final major competition before retirement. He said he treasured the opportunity to compete once again on this stage.

“Gymnastics has been a part of my life,” Ng said, adding that he feels he is at a good level of ability, with the prospect of a medal and a perfect ending to his career.

Ng Ka-ki, who will compete in the man’s vault, said that he feels both honored and nervous about participating in his first Asian Games, and his coach advised him to remain calm and not to place too much pressure on himself

Known in Hong Kong as the “Prince of Still Rings”, Ng first encountered gymnastics at age 4 and has had two ring maneuvers that he created named after him by the International Gymnastics Federation. In his most recent competition — the 10th Asian Gymnastics Championships, held in Singapore in June — Ng won a bronze medal in the ring’s final.

Ng Ka-ki, who will compete in the man’s vault, said that he feels both honored and nervous about participating in his first Asian Games, and his coach advised him to remain calm and not to place too much pressure on himself.

“I will enjoy the games and try my best,” Ng Ka-ki said.

Vaulting athlete Shek Wai-hung, a two-time Asian Games champion, will miss competing in Hangzhou as the event’s schedule conflicts with the World Championships held from Sept 30 through Oct 8.

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Shek acknowledged it was a difficult decision to miss the Asian Games. He will be more focused on achieving good results in the World Championships to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.