Alumni Achievement | Kuok Kin Hang (Jugo) : “Stay True To Yourself, and Make a Breakthrough”
Alumni Achievement | Kuok Kin Hang (Jugo) : "Stay True To Yourself, and Make a Breakthrough"
18
Dec
18/12/2025
The 15th National Games Karate was recently held at the Forum de Macau. Kuok Kin Hang (Jugo) shares his journey to winning gold at the National Games in Macao.
The 15th National Games Karate was recently held at the Forum de Macau. The Macao team, composed of Kuok Kin Hang, Fong Man Hou, and Cheng Pei Lok, defeated the Hong Kong team in the final, securing the gold medal in the men’s amateur group kata category. This victory marks Macao’s first gold medal in the mass sports events of the National Games, achieving a historic breakthrough and realizing a zero-to-one accomplishment. As an alumnus of the the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Kuok Kin Hang (Jugo), in an interview with the Office for Student and Alumni Affairs(OSAA), shared the journey behind the championship and his insights on perseverance and goal-setting.
“Stay True to Yourself, Make a Breakthrough”
His most profound memory and feeling towards the National Games is that hosting the event in Macao was exceptionally meaningful. Although Jugo was designated as a mass participation sport in this edition, it did not affect the determination of his teammates and him . “At the time, I was filled with excitement and anticipation,” he explained. The National Games were held across three locations in the Greater Bay Area, making it feel like competing “right at our doorstep.” This desire to bring glory to our hometown became a crucial driving force for us. As the old saying goes, “A sword gains its blade from constant grinding, plum blossoms acquire its fragrance in the bitter cold.” Success in anything requires enduring hardship and challenges. Behind the “sharp blade” lies countless hours of practice and accumulated failures. Regarding this hard-earned gold medal, Jugo shared that after the team’s second-place finish at the previous Asian Games, they experienced a period of low morale. Facing formidable opponents, they even suffered setbacks, such as being eliminated in the first round of the Asian Championship. However, rallying their spirits was the key to breaking through the bottleneck. The team’s unbreakable trust, along with their mutual support and encouragement, served as the greatest motivator. “Throughout the process, we never blamed or complained about each other during training. Instead, we focused our time on perfecting every practice, trading sweat and perseverance through injuries for progress.”
He emphasized that success is by no means solely dependent on the individual, “but it also relies on the support and coordination of the coach, fitness trainer, physiotherapist, as well as the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government, etc.” On the path to success, he sincerely thanked everyone behind the team for their contributions and regarded this medal as the result of collective effort.
To the Next Generation: Dare to try and persevere to see hope
As an alumnus of the USJ , his message to the junior students is to find something that allows them to “shine and thrive” and to persevere in it. The first step, he believes, is to discover one’s life goals and ideals. “I understand that many may feel confused about their studies, extracurricular activities, and future aspirations.” Drawing from his own experience, he encourages everyone to be bold enough to try new things, and not be held back by the fear of failure or ridicule. “After setting life goals, don’t wait idly for your dream to come true. Achieving goals or objectives often requires sweat, tears, and hard work behind the scenes.” This insight comes from his personal journey, reflecting his path from the lowest points to the highest podium of the National Games. “Never persist because you see hope; rather, it is through persistence that you will see hope.” His story is not just a tale of an athlete’s struggle but also a life lesson about perseverance, teamwork, and faith. With determination, it’s never too late to start; with ambition, success is always within reach.
