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SCHOLARS

2022

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Heiley Lui

I have played cricket for three years. Cricket means everything to me because it brings a lot of opportunities. When I was studying last year in university, I lost my career path and felt nervous for my future since I had no idea what I should do. After the last examination, I participated in a cricket course which promoted cricket in universities. Kary and Emma shared their experience and they attracted me to play in this sport. That was how I started to play cricket! My journey to cricket started in 2019 when I was a newly joined player to this fascinating team sport. For me, learning cricket was not easy since I have not played any bat and ball game before. I lacked confidence to bat and was afraid to field, the teammates were easy-going and they shared the skills with me. Meanwhile, Cricket Hong Kong (CHK) was promoting the foundation coaching course. I wanted to gain more knowledge so I was determined to participate in this course. In the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 changed our lifestyle but it also gave me a huge opportunity. There were less chances to get a full-time job. When I felt a slump, I started to become a part-time coach. To teach the children in various schools and community organizations, I was increasing self-confidence and presentation skills as well. Fortunately, the International Cricket Council (ICC) organized an ICC coaching level 1 course in August. This course let me dig into cricket more professionally. Also, I meet other new friends from different backgrounds. They were senior players, coaches, and umpires, they were willing to share their experience with me. Furthermore, I was fortunate enough to be offered a career opportunity at CHK in the capacity of Sports Organizer Trainee. In this particular role, I was responsible for photos capturing, videos editing, organizing social media posts, assisting the broadcasting team in live cricket events as well as providing guidance to the young cricket players. Determined to play cricket professionally, I followed the Hong Kong Women National Squad’s training in order to accelerate the skills. After a year, I got promoted as Marketing and Promotion Coordinator in CHK. It was not only making content of social media but also managing the 5 social media platforms and official website. To communicate with the league sponsor and fulfill their requirements. Besides that, I was playing in CCC Sunrisers (Women’s T20 Division 1) and Jade Jets (Women’s Premier League). That was a big jump in my cricket pathway. Although it was difficult to maintain my career and cricket at the same time, I believed that persistence can make me successful. Eventually, I debuted in “ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2021”. I was so proud to represent Hong Kong and glad to get the No.57 cap from the captain. In this year, CHK co-organized with FairBreak Global to hold the “SDG FairBreak Invitational 2022” in Dubai. It has broadened my horizon to organize an international cricket event overseas. As a social media team, I worked with people with various backgrounds and created content for sharing with Hong Kong media. This was my first time to see international cricketers but not on television. After this event, I would like to thank the Anita Miles Foundation for their very generous summer scholarship in the UK. It is a special experience for me to improve my cricket skills and broaden my views of the world. I am excited to have the sessions with the coaches of Southern Vipers, Charlotte Edwards, Ian Cozy, and Adam Carty.  They gave me valuable guidance and helped me to develop my skills. Also, I was playing for Cove Cricket Club in Farnborough. The club was like a big family, they were very friendly and blended me in their cricket life in the UK. It was a memorable experience in my cricket journey. It was not only for improving skills but also to experience life in the UK.

2022

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Emma Lai

My name is Lai Wing Ki ( Emma ). I am a right-hand batsman and Willow Wielders is my club team. Play for Hong Kong since 2011. Before, I was not a sports person and just a waitress working in the Hong Kong Cricket Club. Initially, I didn’t even know cricket existed in Hong Kong. The first impression of watching a cricket match is watching a 60-year-old man play, the image is boring and the game takes so long. After two years, the HKCC had a scheme for its employees, we could take a couple of hours off work a week to learn cricket. That sounded fun for me, so I took the opportunity. After the session, the coach saw so much potential in me. So he convinced Rodney Miles, the current Cricket Hong Kong president and former HKCC chairman, to ensure I had time as a working hour to learn cricket. I’m very grateful that the HKCC allowed me to play cricket that way. In just over a year from my first lesson, I was in the Hong Kong squad that traveled to Kuwait. Cricket totally changed my life. Before cricket, I couldn’t imagine traveling to many countries, meeting and being friends with people from other nations. I have played cricket for 10 years now. In my cricket career, I had a couple of big moments. Representing Hong Kong to play Asian Olympic Games 2018 is my bigger honor, captain Hong Kong to play the East Asia Women’s T20 Championship. I got the opportunity to be an Associate Rookie for Perth Scorchers in Women’s Big Bash League, seeing the higher standard cricket country and what it looks like. FairBreak is the first tournament I can play with the top-class cricketer in the world, not just being with a team like WBBL. I can get on the ground and play against each other. It is a very big eye-opener for me. And because of cricket, it changed my working career too. Now I’m working for Cricket Hong Kong Association, promoting cricket all around Hong Kong, coaching and developing young cricketers. I’m very excited to hear about the Anita Miles Foundation scholarship, going to the UK for a couple of months, living in the original cricket country, and learning and playing cricket there. They also help organize for me to have a chance to do some coaching there. It allows me to develop my coaching skills. This scholarship would be a great experience for my cricket journey.

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