- Faculty Highlight
- Expressions Summer 2025
Work Hard, Play Hard
Faculty students make lasting impressions on local sports scene
From left: Tiffany Yeung; Richard Siu; Ryan Chak; Kyle Tsang; Professor Mike Leung, Associate Dean (Global Engagement and Development); Ethan Leung and Owen Pun.
Six Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students from the HKU Faculty of Dentistry recently demonstrated their talents beyond the classroom by making notable contributions to local sports, with three honoured as Most Valuable Players (MVPs). Their leadership, discipline, and drive while representing HKU in inter-varsity events reflect the Faculty’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded future dental professionals who embody initiative and commitment essential to clinical excellence and personal growth.
In April, Richard Siu, Tiffany Yeung, Ryan Chak, and Kyle Tsang proved themselves to be key players on the HKU Basketball Team. Despite their demanding academic schedules, they displayed keen determination both in preparation and on the court during the AIA University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China (USFHK) Basketball Competition 2024-2025. Their hard work paid off: the men’s team reclaimed the championship title after a 24-year hiatus, while the women’s team secured an impressive 2nd place finish. Two other standout performers are Ethan Leung and Owen Pun, who were named MVPs of the HKU Men’s Tennis Team and the HKU Men’s Fencing Team, respectively, at the USFHK Annual Prize Presentation Ceremony 2024–2025.
Athletes have high concentration and determination, and will strive to overcome pressure and difficult environment. A great dentist must be able to think on their feet and find creative solutions for the unique problems patients bring to the clinic. Many of these situations are unprecedented and require quick, resourceful thinking.
As these six talented students continue to balance their athletic pursuits with professional goals, they prove how qualities honed through sport — resilience, patience, strategic thinking, and teamwork — naturally complement the demands and responsibilities of dentistry. They are not only shaping their own futures, but also redefining what it means to be a truly outstanding dentist.
Perseverance Inspires Success
Basketball has taught me many things, but the most important is perseverance.
“Basketball has taught me many things, but the most important is perseverance,” said Richard Siu, captain of the men’s team. “Through perseverance, I was able to keep up with my studies in the BDS programme. Especially now, when I’m working in the clinic, it can be really exhausting. But being able to help patients gives me a great sense of achievement, and that motivates me to keep going.”
Pushing Limits, Achieving Goals
Even when we’re exhausted from classes, studying, assignments, and clinical work, we have to keep pushing. Just like in a basketball game, you don’t stop until the final whistle blows.
Tiffany Yeung, captain of the women’s team, agreed: “Even when we’re exhausted from classes, studying, assignments, and clinical work, we have to keep pushing. Just like in a basketball game, you don’t stop until the final whistle blows.”
Balancing Passion Triumphs
Juggling basketball and studies has become a winning combination, sharpening my sense of discipline and teaching me how to make every minute counts.
‘Newcomer’ Ryan Chak placed equal importance on sports and studies: “Juggling basketball and studies has become a winning combination, sharpening my sense of discipline and teaching me how to make every minute count.” In the lead-up to the tournament, Ryan ably managed his academic workload while continuing his rigorous training with the Hong Kong Basketball League Division 2. Just days before the tournament, however, he faced an unexpected setback: a serious illness that required hospitalisation. Fortunately, he made a timely recovery and was able to join his team-mates on the court, contributing to their victory.
Tenacity Earns MVP
Nothing in life ever goes completely smoothly: as in basketball, there are always ups and downs.
Kyle Tsang, co-captain of the men’s team, also faced hurdles heading into the tournament. Still recovering from an earlier injury, he competed without being at peak condition. Yet, his confidence in the team’s ability to win never wavered. “Nothing in life ever goes completely smoothly: as in basketball, there are always ups and downs,” he shared. Kyle’s tenacity and steadfast leadership may be what earned him the title of Men’s MVP at The USFHK Annual Prize Presentation Ceremony 2024–2025.
Champion Mindset, Clinical Precision
As a tennis player, you need to solve problems on the court and adjust your strategies in real time. It’s a similar approach that I take in the clinic, always striving to provide the best care possible for my patients.
Another standout performer is Ethan Leung, who was named MVP of the HKU Men’s Tennis Team. This year, he played a pivotal role in helping HKU reclaim the championship title at the USFHK Tennis Competition 2024–2025, a prestigious honour the University had not held for many years.
Reflecting on his journey to the championship, Ethan recalled overcoming steep deficits in crucial matches and never giving up. “As long as you persist, there’s always hope. I have confidence in myself,” he said. He credits years of intensive tennis training with developing the mental resilience and problem-solving skills that have been instrumental in preparing him for clinical work. “As a tennis player, you need to solve problems on the court and adjust your strategies in real time,” Ethan explained. “It’s a similar approach that I take in the clinic, always striving to provide the best care possible for my patients.”
From Fencing to Care
As athletes, we have to wait for the right moment during a competition; in clinical practice, patience and timing are also crucial to delivering the best treatment for our patients. If you’re willing to spend a little more time, you’ll achieve even better results.
Finally, Owen Pun was also named MVP at The USFHK Annual Prize Presentation Ceremony 2024–2025, after helping the HKU Men’s Fencing Team win the championship. He attributes his success to discipline in sports, recognising that becoming an athlete from a young age taught him the importance of perseverance and the need to do his best in everything he undertakes.
Owen shared that his passion for fencing had to take a back seat to his growing commitment to patient care. In a bold move during his second year of the BDS, he made the difficult decision to step down from the Hong Kong Fencing Team. “Starting from the third year, we have to do clinical work and take direct care of patients. That’s why I wanted to devote more time to my studies, so I could provide the best possible care,” he recalled. Reflecting on how his experience as a competitive athlete shapes his clinical approach, he added: “As athletes, we have to wait for the right moment during a competition; in clinical practice, patience and timing are also crucial to delivering the best treatment for our patients. If you’re willing to spend a little more time, you’ll achieve even better results.”