A university student uses his or her four or five years of studies to build expertise and acquire soft skills for lifelong success. An athlete devotes his or her time to practise sport. What about a student who juggles both roles?

Let Matthew LAI Cheuk-nam, a year 3 student in the Department of Chinese and History of CityU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), share his experience. He and Lincoln CHAN Wui-ki, a year 4 student in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences of CLASS, represent the University and the Hong Kong squash teams. In December 2019, they represented the University in the elite group at the 3rd All China University Squash Competition in Shanghai, and returned as the overall men’s champion, as well as the champion and runner-up in the men’s singles.

Lai recalls how he started playing squash. “I was introduced to mini squash at Primary One. I hardly recall anything really amusing about playing the sport, but I do treasure the friendship with Chan. We have known each other since childhood, studied at the same secondary school and trained under the same coach. At Secondary Three or Four, we were both selected for the Hong Kong squash team.” The duo trained together each day and took part in major competitions like the World Junior Championships. By coincidence, they enrolled in the same university and played for the squash team.

The biggest challenge for a student-athlete is how to balance academics and sport. “Usually, I do training in the morning, attend lectures at around noon, and complete another practice session in the afternoon,” Lai says. “I am grateful to have supportive classmates and lecturers who are willing to lend me the lecture notes and explain everything from the beginning when I am late for the classes. When I have to compete in overseas tournaments, not only do the lecturers accept my leave applications, they also express their encouragement. This way, I can manage both the academic work and sport well.”

Their support again helped Lai succeed in the competition in Shanghai, but the intense competition schedule and an incident in the final against Chan tested Lai’s resolve. “I played six matches before the final, during which the edge of my eye was injured. I wanted to end the match quickly, but my impatience drove me to distraction and cost me that set. Fortunately, I bounced back and won the match.”

The spirit of brotherhood is something Lai cherishes. “As Chan will graduate soon, it was the last time we represented CityU as teammates on the field. After all, we grow up and strive for a common goal together.”

Lai is targeting a medal at the next Universiade. Regardless of the outcome, he will do his best and leave with no regrets about his student-athlete life.