Asia sports weekly news bulletin - ISSUE 82 week of 14 September 2026. 18/09/2026 Kai Tak Sports Park welcomed the HKSAR Government's Five-Year Plan and Policy Address, committing to expand international sports and entertainment offerings. Having hosted over 170 events and attracted over 20 million total visitors, KTSP aims to drive sports industrialization and boost Hong Kong's event economy. Wang Jianlin's Wanda Group, via Infront Sports, sold its majority stake in global fitness racing giant HYROX to LVMH-backed L Catterton for an estimated HK$5.4 billion. The deal supports Wanda's strategy to reduce overseas debt while positioning HYROX for accelerated global expansion into new markets. China's women's volleyball team opened its 20th Asian Games campaign with a 3-0 group-stage win over the Philippines. Driven by top scorers Tang Xin (18 points) and Zhuang Yushan (17 points), China overcame early resistance before dominating the final set to secure victory ahead of their next match against Kazakhstan. (4) SF&OC Pledges Full Support for HKSAR Five-Year Plan to Advance Sports Professionalization and Bay Area Talent Exchange The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) pledged alignment with Chief Executive John Lee's Five-Year Plan to advance Greater Bay Area sports integration and athlete career transition. Supported by HKSI's new three-year training scheme, the initiative enhances institutional governance and sports professionalization across Hong Kong. (1) Kai Tak Sports Park Backs Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan to Drive Sports Industrialization and Event Economy (Photo Credit: orangenews) Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) expressed strong support for the Hong Kong SAR Government's Policy Address and its inaugural Five-Year Plan, which prioritize culture, sports, and tourism development as key economic growth drivers. Executive Director Andrew Kam noted that the strategic framework reinforces the park's key role in industrializing local sports and fostering a vibrant event-driven economy. In alignment with official policy direction, KTSP plans to continually attract internationally renowned sports fixtures, cultural performances, and mega-events to turn event foot traffic into broader economic gains across retail, catering, and tourism sectors. Additionally, KTSP welcomed plans to redevelop the Victoria Park Tennis Centre Court, pledging full collaboration to elevate Hong Kong into a premier regional sports hub. Operational statistics released alongside the statement demonstrate the venue's massive scale and visitor draw. Since opening, the sports complex has hosted over 170 international, local, and community events - including the Hong Kong Sevens, major international football matches, and high-profile global concert tours. The park has accumulated more than 20 million visits across its facilities, with its flagship Kai Tak Stadium alone welcoming over 2.6 million spectators. The park's alignment with government planning highlights its key position within Hong Kong's broader strategy to enhance sports infrastructure, foster public-private synergies, and strengthen the city's international competitiveness as a global event capital. (2) Infront Sports Sells Majority Stake in HYROX to LVMH-Backed L Catterton for HK$5.4 Billion (Photo Credit: AP / SCMP) Swiss sports marketing agency Infront Sports & Media - controlled by Wang Jianlin's Dalian Wanda Group - has agreed to sell a majority stake in global fitness racing brand HYROX to a consortium led by private equity firm L Catterton, which is backed by luxury titan LVMH. While financial terms were not officially disclosed, market reports value the transaction at approximately €600 million (around HK$5.4 billion). The deal marks another significant step in Wanda Group's ongoing divestment of its overseas sports assets as it continues to streamline operations and alleviate debt pressures. First investing in HYROX in December 2019 and becoming its majority shareholder in October 2022, Infront oversaw rapid global growth for the indoor fitness competition. Founded in Germany in 2017 by Christian Toetzke and Moritz Fürste, HYROX combines running with functional strength exercises into a standardized mass-participation event often dubbed the "marathon of fitness". Under Infront's ownership, the platform expanded into a global movement hosting nearly 100 events across more than 30 countries annually. The entry of L Catterton is expected to accelerate HYROX's international footprint, particularly across key growth markets in Asia and the Middle East. With LVMH's global network and lifestyle branding resources behind it, industry analysts anticipate the partnership could further elevate mass fitness racing into a premium lifestyle and wellness ecosystem. (3) Chinese Women's Volleyball Team Secures 3-0 Victory Over Philippines in Asian Games Opener (Photo Credit: 新華社) The Chinese women's volleyball team launched its campaign at the 20th Asian Games on September 16, 2026, defeating the Philippines 3-0 in its opening group match. The starting lineup featured outside hitters Wu Mengjie and Zhuang Yushan, middle blockers Guo Zhongnan and Wang Aoqian, opposite hitter Tang Xin, setter Zhang Zixuan, and libero Wang Mengjie. The Philippines presented unexpected resistance during the early stages, briefly leading 4-3 in the first set before China pulled ahead to claim it 25-18. In the second set, the Philippines mounted a spirited rally to tie the score at 20-20 before key points from Tang Xin and Zhuang Yushan secured a 25-22 set victory. China dominated the final set, comfortably closing out the match 25-8. Offensively, Tang Xin and Zhuang Yushan led the scoring with 18 and 17 points respectively, while 18-year-old middle blocker Wang Aoqian added 13 points. Following the match, Head Coach Zhao Yong expressed dissatisfaction with the team's early blocking and offensive execution, noting that the squad only reached its expected form in the third set. Returning setter Zhang Zixuan acknowledged initial match nervousness after a month off the court and emphasized focusing on squad communication for upcoming fixtures. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong women's volleyball team suffered a 0-3 defeat against South Korea on the same match day. (4) SF&OC Pledges Full Support for HKSAR Five-Year Plan to Advance Sports Professionalization and Bay Area Talent Exchange (Photo Credit: RTHK) The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) expressed strong support for Chief Executive John Lee's Policy Address and Hong Kong's inaugural 2026-2030 Five-Year Plan. SF&OC President Timothy Fok emphasized that the organization will actively align with national development blueprints and leverage Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" to fulfill the strategic vision of an integrated Greater Bay Area "Sports Bay". Planned initiatives include cross-border talent exchanges through the Hong Kong Olympic Academy and Mainland sports exchange tours. SF&OC also reported progress on institutional governance following the 2024 launch of the Code Governance Code, with performance reviews of local sports associations scheduled for early 2027 to elevate professional governance standards. Concurrently, Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) Chairman Tang King-shing welcomed the government's newly announced three-year Sports Executive Training Scheme. The program is designed to create structured career pathways for retired elite athletes while cultivating administrative leadership to accelerate sports professionalization across the territory.

L Catterton invests $30 million in Nandhana Foods. Last updated: September 16, 2026 2:55 pm L Catterton, the largest global consumer-focused investment firm, has entered into a definitive agreement to invest in Nandhana Foods, a leading restaurant group specializing in South Indian cuisine. The investment will support Nandhana Foods' next phase of growth and enable the group to achieve greater scale by leveraging L Catterton's industry expertise and operating capabilities. L Catteryon has invested $30 million (about Rs 288 crore) for a double digit minority stake in the company, said sources. South Indian cuisine is one of the largest segments of India's burgeoning food services market. Propelled by secular trends such as the rising per capita expenditure on dining out and food delivery services, as well as the increasing number of consumption occasions, the segment is expected to witness strong growth led by iconic brands like Nandhana Foods. Nandhana Foods has been offering authentic South Indian cuisine for over three decades, with a keen focus on taste, authenticity, food quality, freshness, and menu variety. Together with its unique and customizable spice profile, this dedication has enabled it to cultivate a loyal customer base. Vikram Kumaraswamy, partner, L Catterton said Nandhana Foods' founding family has built a distinctive and scalable business with a strong consumer proposition and attractive unit economics. It has expanded the business in a disciplined manner and ensured that its restaurants remain anchored in high quality and consistency, he said. There is significant headroom for additional growth by further deepening and broadening its presence in South India and penetrating other markets, he added. Dr R Ravichandar, founder and Managing Director, Nandhana Foods said L Catterton has a profound grasp of the organisational DNA and an intricate understanding of the restaurant industry. "We are excited about tapping into its astute insights and proven know-how to strengthen our operations in line with our commitment to providing high-quality food and service to our customers," he added. L Catterton has invested in about 30 restaurant businesses till date, with current and past portfolio companies in the space including Dishoom, P.F. Chang's, Velvet Taco, Baja Fresh, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Cigierre, HUGE, Impresario, and Mendocino Farms. Published on September 16, 2026