Slam Dunk in Sports
and Academics

This year, HKU student athletes achieved notable success in international competitions. HKU has always been supportive of the dual-track development of academics and athletics for its student athletes, providing scholarships and other resources for excellence.

One such example is Kyle Tsang, a basketball player admitted through the Sports Scholarship Scheme and enrolled as a first-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery student. Balancing academics and sports, he emphasises time management and preparation as keys to success. Consistent basketball practice and daily study routines keep Kyle disciplined and organised.

Basketball has played a vital role in Kyle’s school life. As the oldest La Salle College basketball team member and captain, he understood his responsibilities in identifying players’ strengths and weaknesses, fostering teamwork, and encouraging consistent practice. Kyle appreciates his coach’s trust, enabling him to showcase leadership and mentor younger teammates.

Reflecting on a semi-final loss during his final elite competition before the HKDSE, Kyle attributes it to insufficient practice due to a mock exam. In retrospect, he would have prioritised practice over the exam. However after entering university, he is aware that balancing dentistry and basketball may be challenging. While not aiming for a professional career, Kyle still wants to play at higher levels in Hong Kong and has hopes of becoming a HKA1 player. But when he graduates and becomes a dentist, it might be difficult for him to juggle both. Then, he would be more than satisfied with occasional friendly matches.

Kyle’s role models and learning objectives stem from basketball. He admires Kyrie Irving’s perseverance and creativity, overcoming height disadvantages in NBA games. Like Irving, Kyle values learning from experience, listening to others, and humbly accepting constructive criticism for self-improvement.

He advises juniors to manage stress effectively, acknowledging that pressure often comes from the fear of not meeting expectations. While some pressure can be motivating, excessive stress can be counterproductive. Giving one’s best effort in all endeavours can transform stress into a driving force, a mindset applicable to basketball as well.

For Kyle, success is a continuous journey with milestones emerging along the way, like playing for the Hong Kong Basketball Team and admission to HKU’s Faculty of Dentistry. Emphasising the importance of facing pressure and challenges for personal growth, Kyle will continue pursuing excellence in dentistry and basketball, steadily overcoming obstacles as he pursues his dreams.