• Student Corner
• Expressions Winter 2022

Sports Scholars

Students were Encouraged to Pursue Dental Studies and Sports

The Faculty of Dentistry has been nurturing talented sports scholar by supporting students to pursue dental studies while continuing their sport training. In 2022/23 academic year, through HKU Sports Scholarships Scheme, five sports scholars were admitted to the Faculty of Dentistry. They are Mr Darren Chu, Mr Ethan Leung, Mr Melvin Lo, Mr Brian Shih and Mr Matthew Yip. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) offers the Sports Scholarship Scheme to outstanding athletes who pursue sports excellence and formal academic studies as an alternative admission path to HKU.

Shuttlecock

Darren Chu

Mr Darren Chu, a member of both the Hong Kong Shuttlecock Team and the Youth Shuttlecock Team, participated in national and Guangzhou /Hong Kong competitions; and achieved fabulous results. Darren has been playing the sport since secondary 2. He first learned about the sport through his father who is also a huge fan of shuttlecock. Through competitions, he developed the ability to face challenges head-on and turn things around with positivity. His capability of focusing on athletics and academics at the same time is enhanced through training. He is confident that he can manage his study and shuttlecock training well. “Participating in sports not only assists me in developing a good biological and mental outlook, but also reduces the stress that comes with studying for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination particularly.” He desires to become a kind and loving dentist who could greatly impact patients, especially children. He encourages his fellow junior students, “In the face of keen competition, you should be well-prepared in order to study dentistry. If you can, take the opportunity to practice in a dental clinic to find out whether you are qualified to become a dentist.”

Tennis

Ethan Leung

Excellent in tennis, Mr Ethan Leung is a confident young man who goes from strength to strength. At the age of four, he began playing tennis, and has been devoted ever since. When asked about the challenges he faced while competing, he said, “To me, competitions are not challenges, because I love competing in tournaments. It is the thing that draws me back to the court. If there isn’t any competition, I won’t participate in sports. It’s tremendously satisfying to put in extra effort to perform well when the time comes.” He has represented Hong Kong on multiple occasions and has participated in many International Tennis Federation Junior tournaments and local tournaments, even winning a few of them. As a student and an athlete, he believes effective time management is the key to balancing training and studying. He shared, “As long as I pay extra attention in class, I don’t need to devote much extra time in studying outside of the classroom. That is how I manage the pressure and stress of both my studies and athletic endeavours.” His guiding principle is “Continue engaging in your favourite activities. Have confidence in yourself.”

Tennis

Melvin Lo

Mr Melvin Lo, a former member of the Hong Kong Tennis National Training Squad, has participated in different local and international competitions. Encouraged by his father, he began to join training programmes organized by Hong Kong Tennis Association at the age of seven. Since then, he hasn’t looked back. He encountered ups and down; joy and tears; satisfaction and disappointment throughout his 12-year tennis career. It was persistence which kept him moving forward and progressing. “I couldn’t have conquered the obstacles I came across without the help of my family and friends,” he stressed.

Mr Lo has always desired to work in the healthcare sector. He wants to become a dentist to serve the community. “Dentistry is fun and interesting, especially when it comes to different kinds of practical and clinical work,” he said. Being a sportsman, he has trained to be disciplined, perseverant and gritty. He also mentioned, “I believe that participating in sports can benefit my academic pursuit in some ways. As long as I can effectively manage my time, I can concentrate in class.” For him to handle his studies and athletics, good time management is a key prerequisite. He encourages his fellows, “Work hard and play hard! Uphold a healthy work-life balance.”

Table Tennis

Brian Shih

Mr Brian Shih, a talented table tennis player who was a member of the Hong Kong Table Tennis Junior Team, participated in a number of tournaments both inside and beyond the region. He shared, “Table tennis involves ongoing skill improvement and competition of wisdom and strength. To put forward and showcase my speed, ambiance, and skill at tournaments is absolutely enjoyable.” He has struggled with numerous setbacks and frustrations as an athlete. Eventually, he survived the hardship with diligent daily training and the unwavering support from his parents. In both sports and academics, he adopted perseverance as his most crucial approach. Despite his demanding training schedule, he managed to maintain concentration in class and efficiently utilize his downtime to catch up on his studies. “I am overjoyed that my dream of attending dental school has come true. I made the decision to pursue dentistry to assist people live a better life after witnessing my friend’s significant transformation brought on by orthodontic treatment,” Mr Shih said. He exhorts students to never lose confidence and to persevere in the face of hardship.

Squash

Matthew Yip

Mr Matthew Yip ranks 6th in Hong Kong Squash Category U19 currently. He actively participates in various tournaments of Hong Kong Squash League. He mentioned, “Speed, tact, and a high level of physical and mental aptitude are necessary for playing squash. Though tough, I really enjoy playing it. Constant practice is the key to overcoming obstacles.” Mr Yip found science interesting and enjoyed interacting with people. Studying dentistry was an obvious choice for him. He learns from his experience as an athlete that effective time management, a high level of attention, and solid problem-solving skills make studying less challenging. He couldn’t find a reason not to keep training as it benefits him in many aspects. He shares, “Always be ready to face challenges!”