Hong Kong’s Asian Games mix of good, bad and ugly, but record medal haul still possible

Hong Kong’s athletes were sent to the Asian Games in Japan this month with the demand they “achieve even greater success, bringing more glory to the country and Hong Kong” and the weight of a city’s considerable expectations on their shoulders.

In this instance, greater success is surpassing the record 53 medals won in Hangzhou three years ago, although the message might also have been “look at how much money we give you, don’t disappoint us”.

Whether the 580 sportsmen and women tasked with amassing more than the eight gold, 16 silver and 29 bronze bagged last time succeed, depends entirely on the events of the next five days.

So far, the tally stands at 35; five gold, 12 silver, 18 bronze. A quiet Tuesday for Hong Kong, when athletics came to its predictably fruitless conclusion, was enlivened by the cyclists winning bronze in the men’s team sprint.