• Faculty Highlight
• Expressions Winter 2021

Sports Scholars

Talented Athletes Pursue Dental Degree

The University of Hong Kong offers the Sports Scholarship Scheme to outstanding athletes who pursue sporting excellence and formal academic studies as an alternative admission path to HKU . In 2021/22 academic year, HKU recruited 31 Sports Scholars and 8 of them were admitted into the Faculty of Dentistry.

LONG JUMP

Chelsea Chung

Physically gifted in sprinting and jumping, Chelsea Chung mastered long jump and joined various athletics competitions in secondary school. While pursuing excellence in long jump was challenging, it boosted Chelsea’s confidence and efficiency under pressure. She learned to be persistent and always be grateful for small achievements. With this positive mindset, she managed to stay relaxed and attentive during examinations. Having gone through Class III malocclusion and orthodontic treatments throughout her childhood, Chelsea was inspired to pursue dentistry as a career. She believes that dentists not only can improve patients’ oral health conditions, but also their confidence. She also encourages fellow junior students to follow their passion for sports and believe in themselves. “Try your hardest and always challenge yourself to defy gravity,” she said.

FENCING

Katie Kwok

Specialised in Fencing (Sabre), Katie Kwok represented Hong Kong and won a title at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in 2019. Apart from sports, she enjoys crafting and studying different scientific subjects. She believes dentistry is a combination of art and science that interests her a lot. Playing sports not only relieves her stress, but also helps her learn how to balance her studies with fencing training. She wishes athletes could enjoy every moment of their journey, and continue to achieve their goals through work hard.

SWIMMING

Brian Lau

Brian Lau is a swimmer from the Hong Kong National Team and has participated in different kinds of events around Hong Kong and Asia. To face the busy training schedule of the Hong Kong team, he has learned how to strengthen his willpower and self-discipline. He believes that doing sports allows him to become more driven and always strive for the best. There is no doubt that his experience as an athlete has made him a better student . He encourages his fellows, “The amount of effort you put in may not be the amount of success you end up with, both in sports and academic, but by no means should you give up when you fail, give in when you haven’t tried your hardest.”

SWIMMING

Anson Leung

Anson Leung, the record holder of 4 events at the International School Sports Federation of Hong Kong, has been in love with swimming since he was a child. He treats swimming as part of his identity. Being a swimmer has made him a determined and self-motivated individual. It also had a positive impact on his studies. He aspired to study dentistry after visiting the dentist with her sister who had cavities. After learning many people have insufficient education on dental healthcare, he wants to become a dentist who can provide dental services and education to the community. “A goal without a plan is just a wish. Be passionate and achieve your goal through hard work. I wish everyone all the best in their future studies!” he said.

FENCING

Owen Pun

Talented at Fencing, Owen Pun dedicated himself to representing Hong Kong in various international Fencing competitions during his secondary school days. Undergoing an accident that broke his teeth made him appreciate dentistry. He believes dentist is a meaningful occupation that brings joy to people around us. Coupled with the interest in hands-on work, he knew that he has found his passion in studying dentistry. Although he was blessed with great athleticism, he experienced ups and downs in his sports career. He found that peer support and a positive mind is vital to overcoming the hardships in sports as well as studies. When it comes to fencing and studying, his motto is “Work hard and work smart!”

BASKETBALL

Yeung Yat Hei

Yeung Yat Hei was a member of the U16 Hong Kong Women’s Basketball Team and the captain of her school basketball team. Playing basketball positively impacted her studies, especially on her time management skills and self-discipline, which allow her to spend time wisely and prioritize her studies. She underwent orthodontic treatments during form 3 and it aroused her curiosity towards dentistry. The two-year treatment not only improved her teeth alignment and self-esteem, but inspired her to be a dentist to help people who suffer from oral problems. Besides, she has always been very fond of the string crafting and oil painting, as well as playing the piano and violin. Her hobbies enable her to develop great dexterity and mobility that later proven to be the necessary fine motor skills in dentistry. “With determination and perseverance, you will be able to achieve brilliant result in studies and sports,” she said.

HANDBALL

Eugenie Wong

Eugenie Wong has represented Hong Kong to participate in different Handball competitions and received brilliant results. Through being a goalkeeper in the handball team, she has acquired strong analytical and decision-making skills. Eugenie also believes that playing sports can help her develop mental resilience because she has to deal with stress, accept failures and identify her weaknesses. These skills also helped her overcome the anxiety brought by public examinations. Because of her experience of receiving orthodontic treatment, she was intrigued by the healthcare field, especially dentistry. She encourages students and sportsmen with her motto - “Work hard, play hard”.

FENCING

Aaron Wu

Having a passion for Fencing (Epee), Aaron Wu participated in numerous local competitions and achieved exceptional results. He found fencing extremely intriguing as it offers fencers a chance to duel with their opponents with weapons and skills. He believes the dexterity, high level of precision and eye-hand coordination that he has developed through years of fencing has allowed him to excel in dentistry. In the face of a very demanding studying schedule, Aaron continue to fence. He added that fencing brings him happiness and helps him relax. “To balance my studies and sports, I have set up a planner that I follow it strictly. Setting our heads straight and staying focused are the keys to success,” he said.