Hong Kong, China fields 11 combinations for 20th Asian Games with experienced and emerging riders united in pursuit of excellence

The Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China (EFHKC), in conjunction with The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club), announced today (11 September) the team that will represent Hong Kong, China in the equestrian events at the 20th Asian Games. Eleven horse-rider combinations have been selected to compete across all three disciplines — Dressage, Eventing and Jumping — in both team and individual competitions. The team brings together experienced riders and rising stars making their first Asian Games appearance, underscoring the strength of Hong Kong’s equestrian talent pipeline and the sport’s enduring tradition of passing expertise from one generation to the next.

Among this year's selection, two experienced riders - Patrick Lam and Annie Ho - have been selected to compete in two disciplines each. Lam will contest both Eventing and Jumping, while Ho will compete in Eventing and Dressage. The three riders making their Asian Games debuts are: Sheikara Lalive d’Epinay in Jumping, and Yuddy Cheng and Kendra Li in Dressage, bringing a welcome infusion of fresh talent into a squad built on experience. All athletes train under the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan (HKEPP), a joint initiative of the EFHKC and the Club, and are presently based in Europe, where they continue to prepare alongside their equine partners in the final weeks before departure.

Corinne Bracken, Performance Manager at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, has been appointed Chef d'Equipe for the Games, leading a support team drawn from the Club that includes coaches, grooms, veterinarians, farriers and both equine and human physiotherapists, ensuring that both horses and riders are attended to with the highest standard of care throughout the competition.

Lester Huang, President of the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, said: "That we are able to compete across all three disciplines in both team and individual events reflects years of dedicated work by the Federation — underpinned throughout by the unwavering support of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and the Jockey Club. We have been nurturing talent and strengthening the structures that support this development, which is also a testament to the quiet dedication of every athlete and horse. This team brings together an experienced core with fresh talent now stepping onto the Asian stage for the first time, and together, they represent not only individual effort, but the very spirit of continuity and renewal that defines equestrian sport in Hong Kong. I would also like to highlight that both Annie Ho and Patrick Lam will compete across two disciplines this year, a reflection of their all-round ability and determination. I am equally delighted that six of our own experienced officials have been appointed as stewards at these Games, a fitting recognition of the calibre of officiating talent Hong Kong has cultivated, and one that speaks to its standing on the international stage — an achievement of which we are equally proud. On behalf of the Federation, I thank the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and the Club for their continued support, and I wish every combination the very best as they compete with distinction, enjoy the Games, and bring pride to Hong Kong."

The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “I congratulate all our riders on their selection and on the honour of representing Hong Kong, China. I hope they can perform to the best of their ability. As a world-class horse sports organisation, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has long supported equestrian sport. We nurture riders at the grass-roots level through our public riding schools and at the elite level through our support for the Hong Kong, China equestrian team in partnership with the EFHKC.” He added that the Club supports sports development at both the elite and community levels, encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles. At the elite level, beyond its support for the equestrian team members, the Club supports the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, through which it provides cash incentives to Hong Kong, China athletes to inspire excellence at major events.

Hong Kong, China Equestrian Team: Full Squad & Competition Schedule

#HKJC sponsored horse

The equestrian competitions will be staged at the JRA Equestrian Park, Tokyo, and feature entries from 22 countries and regions – more than the previous edition in Hangzhou.

In addition to its athletes, six Hong Kong officials have been appointed as officials for the Games:  Alice Mak, Chief Steward at The Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, will serve as Dressage Chief Steward, while Gerald Kuh, Astrid Angvik, Jennifer Ho, Boris Yue and Suzanne Yau have each been appointed as Stewards across all three disciplines,  helping to oversee the smooth and fair conduct of the disciplines throughout the Games — a fitting recognition of the depth of officiating expertise that Hong Kong has cultivated over many years, and one that speaks to the standing of the city's equestrian community on the international stage.

Hong Kong, China first competed in equestrian sport at the 10th Asian Games in Seoul in 1986, in the Jumping discipline, and has fielded a team at every subsequent edition save for Beijing 1990, when equestrian sport was not contested. The city first entered all three disciplines at Guangzhou 2010, where Patrick Lam, Jacqueline Lai, Samantha Lam and Kenneth Cheng claimed a bronze medal in team Jumping — the first Asian Games medal in the sport in Hong Kong, China’s history. Four years later, at Incheon 2014, Annie Ho, Nicole Pearson and Thomas Ho won bronze in team Eventing, delivering the city’s first Asian Games podium finish in the discipline. In 2018, Jacqueline Siu made history with individual gold in Dressage, and at Hangzhou 2023 she added an individual silver before combining with Annie Ho and Samantha Chan to secure team bronze.