In the third episode of Why Asia Cup Matters? on Hong Kong’s official Instagram handle (12 August 2026), 30-year-old all-rounder Mariko Hill and 29-year-old left-arm spinner and former skipper Kary Chan reflected on Hong Kong’s hard-fought qualification for the 6th ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, set to be hosted by the UAE from 28 August to 13 September 2026. Their conversation blended raw emotion, team pride, and the underdog spirit as Hong Kong, led by skipper Natasha Miles, prepare to face India, Pakistan, and Thailand in Group A.
Hong Kong’s journey to the Asia Cup has been anything but straightforward. After missing out on the 2022 qualification path, losing to Malaysia by 12 runs in a rain-reduced semi-final, the team returned with renewed resolve. Their breakthrough came on 10 June 2026, when they defeated Japan, led by Mai Yanagida, in the second quarter-final of the ACC Women’s Premier Cup at YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi. That victory secured only their second-ever Asia Cup appearance, the first being the inaugural 2012 edition, where they finished bottom of Group A without a win.
Kary Chan recalled the emotional toll of past near-misses, particularly in 2022: “Sometimes I still think about that again. I couldn’t leave the house for five days.” Hill admitted she hadn’t known the depth of that struggle until now, but said it fueled their campaign: “From that, we kind of said in this qualifiers that we don’t want that to happen again. So we just gave it our all.”
For Chan, the Asia Cup represents more than qualification; it’s a chance to test herself against the best. “It’s like a dream. Asia Cup is one of the things we want to qualify for,” she said, before adding with a smile: “If I get Smriti (Mandhana) out, I got a bubble tea.” Her lighthearted bet underscores the team’s mix of ambition and camaraderie as they prepare to bowl to Indian batters on the big stage.
Hill emphasised the magnitude of the opportunity: “We finally qualified for the Asia Cup. It’s massive to us because we’re playing India and Pakistan, and we’re actually put in the same group as them.” She described Hong Kong’s role with clarity and pride: “And the thing is, we’re going to be underdogs. It’s a complete experience. And I feel like the opportunity is something that’s going to be once in a lifetime.”
Kary Chan sees this milestone as a turning point for visibility and support: “It’s a bright future. Hong Kong, China women’s team can get into the Asia Cup. People from Hong Kong, the local, the government also can see.” Their campaign begins in the tournament opener against Thailand on 28 August 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with an 8 PM IST first ball.
As Hong Kong steps onto the Asia Cup stage for only the second time, the voices of Hill and Chan capture a team transformed by resilience, ready to embrace their underdog status with hope, humour, and heart.
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