Hong Kong Wushu Athlete Lydia Sham Wins Asian Games Gold After Promise to K-pop Star Kai
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 6 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong wushu athlete Lydia Sham Hui-yu secured the nation's first gold medal at the Asian Games on Tuesday by winning the women's changquan event, fulfilling a heartfelt promise she made to her idol, EXO member Kai (Kim Jong-in). The 26-year-old immediately shared the moment on social media, posting a video that has since accumulated over 114,000 likes, documenting her journey from fan meeting to podium victory.
Key Points
- Lydia Sham Hui-yu, 26, won the women's changquan event to claim Hong Kong's first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games .
- At a fan signing event in July, Kai asked if performing his signature "Crown" dance gesture would help Sham win gold, to which she replied "I'll try my best" .
- Sham posted a video on social media showing the fan meeting and her medal ceremony, tagging official EXO and Kai accounts, generating over 114,000 likes .
- The athlete revealed that EXO's performance at the 2014 Asian Games opening ceremony inspired her to pursue a professional sports career 12 years ago .
- Her competition outfit featured hexagonal patterns reminiscent of EXO's logo, symbolizing her devotion as a fan for 13 years .
Why It Matters
Sham's victory demonstrates how cultural touchstones like K-pop can inspire athletic achievement across borders, while her social media success has already garnered international media attention including interviews with South Korean outlets . The story resonates with Hong Kong's youth culture, showing how personal passions can drive excellence in unexpected arenas.
Sham's victory demonstrates how cultural touchstones like K-pop can inspire athletic achievement across borders, while her social media success has already garnered international media attention including interviews with South Korean outlets . The story resonates with Hong Kong's youth culture, showing how personal passions can drive excellence in unexpected arenas.