Veteran television presenter Christy Leung saw her son, Brendan, off at the airport yesterday as the talented young athlete departed Hong Kong to represent the city’s team in a major floorball competition in New Zealand. Known for nurturing both academic and athletic excellence in her children, Leung highlighted her son’s dedication to sports, suggesting he inherited his competitive spirit from his father, Kenneth. Brendan is a multi-sport star who has leveraged his athletic prowess to achieve significant educational opportunities, continuing a family trend of high achievement.
Sporting Success Runs in the Family
Brendan’s selection for the Hong Kong Floorball squad cements his status as a promising contender in the regional sports scene. His participation in the New Zealand tournament marks another significant entry in a burgeoning athletic career that spans multiple disciplines. Floorball, a fast-paced form of indoor hockey, requires significant agility and teamwork, skills Brendan has clearly mastered.
Beyond floorball, the young athlete has already established himself as a distinguished golfer. Brendan previously served as a representative for the Hong Kong golf team and secured a coveted position in the Hong Kong Golf Club’s junior squad. His excellence on the greens was instrumental in securing a sports scholarship, underscoring the value of high-level athletic commitments in academic life.
In a social media post shared on Monday, Leung documented the bittersweet moment of sending her son abroad for the competition. She noted that Brendan was traveling with his father, Kenneth, for support, jokingly attributing her son’s athletic drive to his dad’s “sports DNA.”
“Brendan must have gotten his sporting DNA from his father, so he decided to bring Kenbubu [Kenneth] along,” Leung wrote on her platform, adding, “This time it’s floorball in New Zealand! I wish I could go too. Good luck everyone! Have fun!”
The Rise of Floorball in Asia
Floorball, a relatively modern and rapidly growing sport, is gaining substantial traction across Asia, including in Hong Kong. Its accessibility and fast nature make it popular in school and club settings. Brendan’s participation on the national team spotlights the expanding opportunities available to young athletes dedicating themselves to lesser-known, yet internationally competitive, non-traditional sports.
For many young individuals, achieving high standards in specialized sports like floorball or golf can offer pathways unavailable through traditional academic metrics alone. Sports scholarships not only alleviate financial burdens but also provide access to world-class coaching and educational institutions overseas.
Brendan and his teammates will be competing against international squads, aiming to raise Hong Kong’s profile in the global floorball community. This overseas experience provides invaluable exposure, enhancing skills under pressure and fostering camaraderie among some of the region’s elite youth players.
As the Hong Kong team begins its campaign, the support of public figures like Christy Leung helps elevate the visibility of both the sport and the achievements of the city’s dedicated young athletes. The journey to New Zealand represents a significant personal and national effort, highlighting the vital role of family support in achieving peak athletic performance. The results of the New Zealand competition will surely fuel interest in future generations of Hong Kong athletes considering specialization in these challenging and rewarding sports.
