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Organised by the Hong Kong Coaching Committee (HKCC) and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the 2024 Jockey Club Hong Kong Coaching Awards Presentation Ceremony was held at the HKSI today, recognising coaches who made outstanding contributions to the development of sports at the elite, community and school levels in 2024.

A total of 249 nominations were received this year and 196 coaches were recognised across seven award categories including Coach of the Year Awards, Distinguished Services Award for Coaching, Coach Education Award, Best Team Sport Coach Award, Coaching Excellence Awards, Community Coach Recognition Awards and School Coach Recognition Awards.

Mr Lau Chun, Raistlin JP, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Tang King-shing GBS PDSM, Chairman of the HKSI; Mr Robbie McRobbie, Executive Manager for Charities (Sports) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Mr Edmond Hung Chor-ying, Chairman of the HKCC; along with distinguished guests presented the awards at the Ceremony.

Mr Edmond Hung Chor-ying expressed appreciation to coaches in his welcoming speech, saying, “In 2024, Hong Kong athletes achieved remarkable accomplishments at the Olympics, Paralympics, and various international competitions. None of these achievements could have been possible without the efforts of coaches. Besides, many coaches have actively trained new talents in the community and schools, establishing a solid foundation for the athlete development system and the sports development in Hong Kong.” He also extended gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for the unwavering support to the HKCC to facilitate the improvement of coaches’ quality and the development of local sports.

The Coach of the Year Awards (COY) have always been the highlight of the Presentation Ceremony. Boccia coach Kwok Hart-wing and fencing coach Zheng Kang-zhao were awarded in the senior athletes - individual sport category; Para badminton (physical disability) coach Chan Yan-kit and table tennis coach Zhang Rui were honoured in the senior athletes - team event category; wheelchair fencing coach Wong Kam-kau and wushu coach Zheng Tianhui received the award in the junior athletes - individual sport category; while table tennis coach Meng Xianjian took the award in the junior athletes - team event category. Four out of the seven coaches received the COY titles for the first time, demonstrating the rapid development of Hong Kong sport industry.

Boccia coach Kwok Hart-wing has been awarded the COY for the sixth time. In 2024, he led the Hong Kong boccia team to secure 8 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze across three World Boccia Cups, then went on to achieve the best-ever performance at the Paris Paralympic Games, winning 3 gold and 2 silver. Fencing coach Zheng Kang-zhao won the COY for the seventh time, having previously been awarded six times in wheelchair fencing. Coach Zheng has consistently emphasised systematic training for athletes. Under his leadership, Cheung Ka-long and Kong Man-wai competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they won 2 gold, making history for the Hong Kong’s fencing scene.

Para badminton (physical disability) coach Chan Yan-kit was awarded the COY for the first time. Under his coaching, the Para badminton team maintained a steady performance throughout the year, winning multiple medals in international competitions, including a silver medal in the men’s doubles SH6 by Chu Man-kai and Wong Chun-yim at the World Championships. Table tennis coach Zhang Rui earned the COY title for the second time. In 2024, she led athletes Doo Hoi-kem, Lam Yee-lok, Lee Ho-ching, Ng Wing-lam, and Zhu Chengzhu to semi-finals of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships, capturing a bronze medal and qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

Wheelchair fencing Coach Wong Kam-kau received the COY for the first time. Under his guidance, young athletes have shown continuous improvement. Notably, junior fencer Sean Glass won 1 silver and 1 bronze at the 2024 World Championships U17/U23, and added another silver at the Asian Championships. Wushu Coach Zheng Tianhui also claimed the COY title for the first time, she led the junior athletes to achieve outstanding results at the 9^th World Junior Wushu Championships, contributing 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.

Table tennis coach Meng Xianjian led Mak Ming-shum, Su Tsz-tung, Yuen Sum-lok and Zhang Jiayu to secure bronze in the U15 girls’ team event at the ITTF World Youth Championships 2024. This impressive achievement has earned Coach Meng the COY for the first time.

The Distinguished Services Award for Coaching was presented to billiard sports coach Alan Wong and Para table tennis (intellectual disability) coach Lam Chi-pang, in recognition of their longstanding contributions over the years. Since 2011, coach Wong has led players like Ng On-yee and Cheung Ka-wai to compete in numerous international competitions, achieving remarkable results; Coach Lam, who began coaching Para table tennis since 1993, has nurtured Paralympic medallists including Lai Wai-ling, Ng Mui-wui and Wong Ting-ting.

Gymnastics coach Dr Chan Kam-hung was honoured with the Coach Education Award. Serving as the Coaching Director for the Gymnastics Association of Hong Kong, China for over 20 years, Dr Chan has been responsible for managing the coaching team and overseeing courses and training programmes. He also took the initiative to compile instructional book, providing coaches with comprehensive knowledge, skills, and management concepts. His exceptional contributions have greatly advanced coach training and the development of gymnastics in Hong Kong.

The Best Team Sport Coach Award was received by rugby sevens coach Jevon Groves. He has been coaching the team since 2016. His leadership guided the men’s team to victory at the Asian Rugby Sevens Series last year and securing a spot in the Sevens Challenger 2025.

A total of 127 coaches were honoured with Coaching Excellence Awards for leading athletes or sports teams to achieve outstanding results at international competitions in 2024, while 36 coaches received the Community Coach Recognition Awards in recognition of their contributions to the community. In addition, 31 full-time teachers were presented with the School Coach Recognition Awards, acknowledging their efforts at school level.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has funded HKCC’s programmes through donations totalling over HK$24 million since November 2015. The programmes include the Jockey Club Elite Coaching Development Programmes; the Jockey Club Coaching Accreditation Programmes; and the Jockey Club Community Education and Coach Recognition Programmes to further support the career development of coaches. The annual Jockey Club Hong Kong Coaching Awards falls under the Jockey Club Community Education and Coach Recognition Programmes, which recognise coaches’ contributions to athletes’ training and development in Hong Kong.

The Jockey Club Hong Kong Coaching Awards is organised by the HKCC, a joint committee of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and the HKSI, which was established in 1991 with the aims of formulating and implementing short-term and long-term strategies for the development of coach education and accreditation programmes in Hong Kong. Over the years, more than 100,000 participants have benefited from the Programme.

For the list of recipients for the 2024 Jockey Club Hong Kong Coaching Awards, please visit here. For the past recipients, please visit here.