Hong Kong table tennis veteran Tang Peng ended an impressive 2014 with a bronze medal in the men’s singles at the US$1 million season-ending GAC Group ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Bangkok, held from 11 to 14 December 2014.

Tang was the surprise package in the men’s singles, storming to the semi-finals despite being only seeded 11^th of 16.

In his opening match, Tang battled past England’s Paul Drinkhall, the fourth seed, in six games, eventually winning 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8.

And Tang upset another higher-seeded player, No.6 Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, in five games in the quarter-finals (11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8).

Second seed Dimitrij Ovtcharov awaited in the semis, a player Tang had played six times before and only managed to beat once – eight years ago when the German was only 17.

It looked like a tough task for the 33-year-old Tang, and so it proved, Ovtcharov storming ahead straight from the first serve and winning in four straight games.

Ovtcharov went on to narrowly lose the final to top seed Jun Mizutani of Japan in a seven-game marathon.

But Tang could count himself pleased with an impressive display in the tournament, though he and Wong Chun-ting could not live up to their second-seed status in the men’s doubles, going out to fourth-seed Kenta Matsudaira and Koki Niwa of Japan in the semis.

Hong Kong’s women’s doubles team – Lee Ho-ching and Ng Wing-nam – also reached the semi-finals.

Chan Kong-wah, Head Table Tennis Coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), declared himself pleased with the performances of his charges in Bangkok, and said it was a very satisfactory end to 2014 for his team.

Ko Lai-chak, Hong Kong’s men’s coach, singled out Tang for praise: “Tang had a steady performance at the tournament. He did well in the doubles, and even better in the singles.

“He had a great upset against Samsonov, a famous player, and based on his performance, Tang really deserved the win.”

Tang Peng

Hong Kong won the ARFU U20 Sevens Series title after a brave display in the final leg at King’s Park in Kowloon from 19 to 20 December 2014.

Hong Kong had a player sent off in only the second minute of the final, but managed to withstand the Korean onslaught and win 20-7 – it capped an undefeated season for Hong Kong at U20 level, and they emulated the senior side in being crowned Asian champions.

Co-captain Liam Owens said “The red card may even have helped us at the end of the day as everyone knew we had to work that much harder. We came together even more after that.”

Coach Fan Shun-kei was delighted with his players. “The boys really stepped up and put in that extra effort in the final. We had some tough games all day and then to go out and perform in the final like that was incredible.”

HKSI Head Rugby Coach Gareth Baber said the win bode well for the future: “To come through in a final like that showed a lot of maturity. We need to ensure that we give these players the opportunity to continue to develop and progress to the senior squad.

“The ARFU U20 Series is hugely helpful in this respect and this group of players will put pressure on the senior squad, who will have to fight to keep their position. That type of pressure from below is what ultimately improves performance.”

Hong Kong Boys' Rugby Team

Hong Kong’s up-and-coming squash players had a successful trip to two events on the Malay peninsula, returning from tournaments in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Yuen Tsun-hei and Lau Tsz-kwan faced each other in the boys under 19 final of the KL Junior Open and again two weeks later at the Singapore Squash Open, with Yuen winning the first showdown before Lau got revenge.

There was another all Hong Kong final in Singapore in the girls under 17, with Lui Hiu-lam beating Ho Ka-wing, while further medals were won by Choi Uen-shan (Kuala Lumpur, girls under 19) and Law Yat-long (Singapore, boys under 17).

Cheng Kwok-fai capped a winning 2014 by taking the men’s title at the RS:One World Championships in Bintan, Indonesia from 15 to 20 December, which saw the strongest RS:One fleet ever assembled.

He added the world champion crown to the gold medal he won at the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, with an impressive display, finishing well ahead of the second-place finisher from the host nation, a 17-point margin separating them after 14 races.

Cheng Kwok-fai

Tenpin bowling athlete Mak Cheuk-yin won a bronze medal in the Men’s event at the ABF Tour- Saudi Arabia held on 3 December 2014 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Left: Mak Cheuk-yin

The Hong Kong wheelchair fencing team (Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled) won 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Grand Prix - Hong Kong held on 17 - 21 December 2014 in Hong Kong.

From left: Lee Ka-wai, Peionie Kong (Director (Leasing & Marketing), The Link), Andy Cheung (Chief Financial Officer, The Link), Caribbean Chan (Chief Executive, Food Angel), Healthy Wong (Founder, FOODSPORT)