Hong Kong Women's Football Team Departs for Asian Games; Four-Time Veteran Zhang Weiqi Vows to Enjoy Final Campaign
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong women's football team departed for Tokyo on Saturday (September 5) to begin final preparations for the Nagoya Asian Games. The squad, consisting of 22 players, left Hong Kong wearing their Asian Games team uniform alongside head coach Ricardo, team manager Wong Yeuk-ling, fitness coach, and physiotherapist. Zhang Weiqi, the only four-time veteran in the squad, confirmed this will be her final Asian Games appearance while stating she aims to enjoy the experience and help Hong Kong advance past the group stage for the first time.
Key Points
- Hong Kong's 22-player women's football squad departed for Tokyo on September 5, with training scheduled in Shizuoka before proceeding to Nagoya
- Zhang Weiqi (張煒琪), 35, is the sole four-time Asian Games veteran and confirmed this will be her final participation
- The team faces a challenging group featuring China, Philippines, and Uzbekistan — all FIFA Women's World Cup regulars
- Winger Chan Chung-man (陳頌文), who has relocated to the United Kingdom, will join the squad in Japan on September 8, missing the first friendly match
- Wei Wan-ting (韋婉婷) returns after missing the Hangzhou edition due to disciplinary reasons, bringing experience to the squad
Why It Matters
This Asian Games campaign marks a significant transition for Hong Kong women's football, as Zhang Weiqi's farewell signals the end of an era for a generation that has represented the city at multiple continental competitions. Despite facing formidable opponents in China, Philippines, and Uzbekistan, the squad combines experienced players with youthful energy from the Asian Champions League participants, presenting a balanced team capable of challenging for a top-three finish that would secure advancement to the knockout stage for the first time in the team's Asian Games history.
This Asian Games campaign marks a significant transition for Hong Kong women's football, as Zhang Weiqi's farewell signals the end of an era for a generation that has represented the city at multiple continental competitions. Despite facing formidable opponents in China, Philippines, and Uzbekistan, the squad combines experienced players with youthful energy from the Asian Champions League participants, presenting a balanced team capable of challenging for a top-three finish that would secure advancement to the knockout stage for the first time in the team's Asian Games history.