The team final for the dressage equestrian event at the 15th National Games kicked off on the morning of Nov. 10. Hong Kong rider Isaac Wong, competing in the second round, shared his thoughts after the race — from his debut experience and impressions of the venue to his outlook on equestrian exchange within the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Wong expressed both excitement and nerves ahead of his first National Games and his debut representing Hong Kong in a major competition. Although he has partnered with his current horse for only two to three months and acknowledged minor details to refine, he believed they performed at their best and was generally satisfied with the result.
Speaking about the competition venue in Guangming District, Shenzhen, Huang praised it as "top-class." He highlighted the clean and comfortable stables, where the horses settled in easily, as well as the well-designed warm-up arena and excellent sand footing that helped the horses move smoothly through their routines. "The overall experience was impeccable," he added.
The Hong Kong team has sent a full squad of 11 riders to the Games, with four in dressage, three in eventing, and four in show jumping. Reflecting on equestrian collaboration under the Greater Bay Area initiative, Wong noted a clear strengthening of regional exchanges in recent years. He emphasized that the development of equestrian sports in Hong Kong owes much to support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association, and the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau.
He also pointed out that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been actively involved in projects on the mainland — including the construction of the current Games venue and support for the equestrian events at the Hangzhou Asian Games — helping accelerate the growth of equestrian sports in the mainland.
Having lived in Shanghai for nearly 18 years, Huang plans to continue developing his equestrian career there while maintaining overseas training plans to enhance his skills further. He aims to keep contributing to cross-regional equestrian exchanges in the years ahead.
(Reporter: Guo Ruoxi, Hu Yong'ai | English Editor: Liu Yu)
Related News:
National Games | Women's 100m butterfly: Zhang Yufei tops heat, discusses support & expectations
Comment