The philosophy of winning: From the hospital to the badminton court
After leaving the office, Mandy Lui, Advanced Practice Nurse (Quality & Safety) from the Kowloon West Cluster, swaps her uniform for sportswear, transforming into a sharp and agile badminton player on the badminton court. As a sports enthusiast since childhood, Mandy picked up the racket in secondary school. Her passion for badminton has remained undiminished throughout her studies and career. This persistence eventually led her to an unimaginable stage—the 15th National Games.
An amateur’s dream: Representing Hong Kong for the first time
“I was truly excited at that moment when I learnt that I was selected for the team. I never imagined I could represent Hong Kong,” Mandy laughs, admitting she did not expect to win the chance to compete in Shenzhen.However, the road to preparation was far from easy. Coordinating training schedules as an amateur team was already a challenge, compounded by the fact that her partner suffered an injury after their very first practice session. This competition posed a major test for Mandy, but she rose to the challenge and persisted with her training. Eventually, her partner recovered, and the duo stepped onto the competition court side by side.
After months of training, Mandy felt the intense competitive atmosphere the moment she stepped into the Shenzhen stadium. “The venue was huge. The environment and airflow were completely different from the venues we practised, so we spent quite a bit of time adapting.” Facing strong opponents from provinces across the country, Mandy and her teammates rose to the occasion. They ultimately secured the fifth place in the Mass Participation Events of Mixed Team (3 Games) Group C, gaining an invaluable experience.
The philosophy of teamwork: Complementing strengths and weaknesses
“Team events are harder than individual ones because you have to adjust your style to fit your partner. It is just like working in a hospital. Colleagues need to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and cover for one another to succeed,” Mandy shares, drawing a parallel between the two. “For example, if I know my partner is weak at defence, I need to know how to cover the gap. Similarly, at work, we must learn to complement each other’s strengths, be inclusive, and cooperate to achieve our targets.”
Her winning formula on the badminton court relies on wisdom and tactics. “Even if the opponent is aggressive with powerful smashes, you don’t necessarily have to meet force with force. As long as your defence is solid, and you observe, analyse, and position yourself well, you can turn the tables. By deflecting the shuttlecock to the sides, you disrupt their rhythm and turn a passive situation into an active one.” This mindset of calm analysis and seizing the right moment is her philosophy both in the hospital and on the badminton court.
With the National Games concluded, Mandy has returned to her post, continuing to silently guard patient safety. “Beyond thanking our team and coach for this journey, I also want to express my gratitude to the Hospital Authority and my department for their support, which allowed me to prepare for the competition with peace of mind.” This competition has fueled Mandy’s passion for sports. “We hope to represent Hong Kong again four years later and bring glory to our city.”
Interview video