CUHK student Chu Man-kai, silver medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, won gold medal in the men’s singles SH6 final at the 2022 Para-Badminton World Championships in Tokyo on 6 November, ranking first in the world.

Glory never comes easy as Man-kai has been suffering from physical injuries on the right leg. He said: “I put on and take off kinesiology tapes every day, but they bring me excruciating pain. Along with alcohol irritation, frequent skin allergy is hard to bear. I am grateful for Kumar, my physiotherapist, who takes care of me in every possible way so that I can give my best performance on the arena.”

After lifting the trophy, Man-kai ranks first in the world in his division. “Before the competition, my coaches taught me how to be confident and control my emotions. It was a hard battle to fight. I had faith in my team, my coaches, and myself, and hit the game-winning shot.” 

Man-kai is a first-year student at CUHK admitted through the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission (SALSA) Scheme. “To strike a balance between studies and professional training is indeed very challenging. I am thankful for all the support CUHK has given to me throughout the journey. It is my privilege to have met understanding teachers who provide me with unconditional academic support based on my training schedule,” he said.

Dr Elean Leung Fung-lin from the Physical Education Unit of Faculty of Education said: “The SALSA Scheme is launched to nurture elite student-athletes who aspire to maintain a dual career in professional sportsmanship and undergraduate studies. We support them in all aspects including academics and career-planning that will lead them to a successful career upon retirement from active sports training.” Apart from career training and consultation, CUHK actively expands its connections which opens more internship opportunities for student-athletes.