In 2025, Hong Kong showcased its vibrant energy as the "Events Capital of Asia" through a series of high-caliber, international sports events. From the mass participation in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon at the start of the year to the table tennis fever of the WTT Finals at year's end; from the excitement of Hong Kong Sevens and volleyball at Kai Tak Sports Park to the historic Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao collaboration in hosting the National Games—this year witnessed record-breaking attendance, international acclaim, and remarkable achievements by HK athletes. Here's a look back at the shining moments that defined HK's sports scene in 2025.
Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025
The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025 took place on the morning of Feb. 9, attracting over 74,000 runners from around the globe, including 15,000 overseas participants. The men's race podium was swept by runners from Kenya, while the women's champion hailed from Belarus, with runners-up from Ethiopia. This year, the organizers offered HK$1,000 bonuses to local male runners who completed the race within 3 hours and local female runners finishing within 3.5 hours. A total of 383 runners claimed the bonus.
Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025
The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 was held in late March at Kai Tak Sports Park, marking the venue's first international event. Over three thrilling days, 72 matches were played alongside a series of entertainment programs. Ticket sales set a new record, with over 43,000 three-day passes sold—the highest in the tournament's 40-year history. Attendance exceeded 110,000, a 15% increase from 2024, and the event attracted over 30,000 international visitors for a memorable weekend of rugby.
Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong 2025 presented by China Life (Overseas)
From June 18 to 22, the Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong leg brought five days of exhilarating matches to Kai Tak Sports Park. Six of the world's top women's volleyball teams, including China, competed in 12 intense games. In the final match of the HK leg, China fell to Italy in three sets (21-25, 30-32, 11-25), ending their three-match winning streak. The Chinese team concluded the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Four top European football clubs deliver football spectacles
Four world-class football clubs—Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur—visited Kai Tak Sports Park for two spectacular matches. On July 26, Liverpool faced AC Milan in the Standard Chartered Trophy, while on July 31, the first-ever North London Derby outside the UK saw Arsenal take on Tottenham in the Herbalgy Trophy. Both matches drew nearly 50,000 spectators, setting a new attendance record for Kai Tak Sports Park.
Saudi Super Cup
The Saudi Super Cup was held at Hong Kong Stadium on August 19 and 23, featuring Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo leading Al-Nassr, alongside Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and other top players. The high-stakes matches attracted over 250,000 attendees in total, offering fans a thrilling football showcase.
Li-Ning Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships 2025 – Part of the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500
The Li-Ning 2025 Hong Kong Open, part of the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500, ran from Sept. 9 to 14 at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Organized by the Badminton Association of Hong Kong, China, and sanctioned by the BWF, the six-day event featured top players from around the world, with the Chinese national team dominating by winning all five titles—marking their first sweep at the Hong Kong Open in 13 years.
Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025
The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025 took place from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2 at Victoria Park's tennis center. Canadian teenage star Victoria Mboko, only 19 years old, defeated Spain's Cristina Bucsa in the singles final (7-5, 6-7, 6-2) to claim the championship. This was Mboko's second WTA Tour title of the year, following her win in Montreal. The event was a resounding success, with tickets selling out across multiple days and over 54,000 fans attending.
15th National Games
The 15th National Games were held from Nov. 9 to 21 across Guangdong, HK, and Macao, marking the first time the event was co-hosted by the three regions and the first time HK participated as a host. The Games featured 34 competitive events and 23 mass sports activities, with HK hosting eight events: men's U22 basketball, track cycling, fencing, golf, men's handball, rugby sevens, triathlon, and beach volleyball. HK athletes achieved outstanding results, winning 9 gold, 2 silver, and 8 bronze medals across sailing, cycling, tennis, swimming, rugby, triathlon, and fencing—a historic total of 19 medals.
Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open 2025
The Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open 2025, organized by the Squash Association of Hong Kong and sponsored by Milwaukee, was held from Dec. 1 to 7 at the Hong Kong Squash Centre and Ocean Park's main plaza. As a Platinum-tier event on the PSA World Tour, the tournament attracted over 60 top players from around the globe, delivering a display of exceptional squash skills.
WTT Hong Kong Finals 2025
The WTT Hong Kong Finals took place from Dec. 10 to 14 at the Hong Kong Coliseum, featuring table tennis stars such as Sun Yingsha, Wang Chuqin, and Felix Lebrun. The five-day tournament drew 87,000 spectators, with WTT CEO Steve Dainton calling it the most successful WTT Finals to date—not only in terms of numbers but also due to the passion of the fans. He praised the event for exemplifying the synergy between the host city, spectators, and the global table tennis community.
(Reported by Zoey SUN)
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