Olympic lacrosse dreams drive Hong Kong teams despite slim chances
Hong Kong’s lacrosse teams are chasing an Olympic berth they have little realistic chance of winning, training and competing with the same intensity as those battling for medals.
Source: South China Morning Post · August 31, 2026 at 12:31 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 31 AUGUST 2026 —
Hong Kong’s lacrosse teams are chasing an Olympic berth they have little realistic chance of winning, training and competing with the same intensity as those battling for medals.
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Only twelve teams—six men’s and six women’s sides—will play the sixes format when lacrosse returns to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 after a 120-year absence. Hong Kong’s women rank 21st globally in the 10s version and the men 13th, far below the level needed to qualify. The next realistic target, the World Lacrosse Sixes Championships next year, demands a top-five finish at October’s regional qualifiers in Australia.
Yet the teams persist, driven by the distant dream of Olympic glory.
“Watching the Olympics since I was little, it always felt so far away, if not impossible,” said Sally Tang Yi-ting, captain of Hong Kong’s women’s team. “It’s like a golden challenge or target for any athlete. Yes, that’s a long road ahead, but it’s something to work hard for.” Baron Lee Chun-long, 19 and captain of the under-20s men’s team, acknowledged the odds but sees a pathway.
“We all realised it’s going to be very difficult, but there’s still a chance,” he said. “If the sport is to remain in the Olympics, it gives younger children playing the sport hope to reach the world stage.”
Most Hong Kong players balance training with full-time jobs or education, unlike full-time athletes in medal-winning sports. Karen Lo, a former Hong Kong swimmer turned sports psychologist, said the motivation stems from “deeply held values like excellence, courage, identity, belonging, or contribution,” not just the pursuit of a medal. “The psychological trap is not the unattainable goal, but becoming fused with a single outcome,” she said.
Experienced athletes often shift focus from winning to mastery and personal growth, Lo added. Tang, who has played for a decade, said she started for love of the sport, not the Olympics. “I played because I love lacrosse and enjoyed improving myself,” she said. “You can’t control how strong the other national teams are.
You only put unnecessary pressure on yourself by caring too much about things you can’t control.” Lee sees the long game, eyeing Brisbane 2032 as a potential final destination. “I wonder what role I will play six years from now,” he said. “This is the reason I am doing this—about representing my birthplace and what I get at the end of my career.”
The IOC has not guaranteed lacrosse’s place beyond Los Angeles 2028. History shows many Olympic sports fade after brief appearances. Tang knows her Olympic dream may vanish before she ends her career, yet she continues. “The motivation is about improving every day—individually and collectively,” she said.