Carl Ching (2nd from the right) with the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and FIBA officials during his FIBA president’s election held in Indianapolis, USA, in 2002. November 2, 2021
A Tribute to Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching
By Graham C. Lim
Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching is a man of few words but a longtime sportsman-cum-businessman-cum-philanthropist that he is, he has been able to accomplish the things that he set to do during his lifetime.
His selfless leadership has been impeccable and his achievements as a basketball sports executive have been immeasurable.
Carl, in various ways, has been a big brother to me. He has provided me the inspiration on how to handle things as a sports official that I am myself.
The Hong Kong-based Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching has loved the game of basketball like nobody else. His dedication to the sport as a basketball leader and organizer has brought Asia countries to the forefront of the international map.
For the love of basketball, that has been Carl's mantra in all his advanced life.
In that respect, the Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF) has honored Dr. Carl as its Chairman Emeritus for more than a decade when he was elected as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) President in 2002 during the FIBA Congress held in Indianapolis, USA.
His much-respected stature has brought the AUBF to greater heights.
Established in 1998, the AUBF is Asia’s only university federation that is duly recognized by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF), which was led by president Dr. Enoch Markum and Secretary-General Dr. Ekodjatmiko Sukarso, both from Indonesia, during this inception. The AUBF later became an independent organization and joined the Asia Pacific University Sports Union (APUSU) furthering expanding to the Asia Pacific regions.
Dr. Ching is a hands-on sports leader. His persistence and perseverance, coupled with his innovative ideas, helped produce the first Asian professional league known as the Asian Basketball Association (ABA).
A creative-mind approach to this seldom-tapped field, particularly in basketball, he took. Carl’s novel formula for success and excellence spurred him to become the president of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) from 2002 to 2006.
Determined Dr. Ching was then the head of the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC), which has since been rebranded to FIBA-Asia Championship and then FIBA Asia Cup, during its formative years.
The AUBF organizes the Asian University Basketball Championship once in two years, if not annually when a country wishes to host the university-level event.
It has been an honor to work alongside Dr. Ching for more than three decades. The longtime partnership continues in this journey that is based on friendship, trust, and camaraderie.
The AUBF will not have to grow big without the presence of Dr. Ching.
For this selfless effort to prop up the AUBF through the years, I am recommending to the Executive Board of the Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF) that the succeeding Asian University Basketball Championships (AUBC) be named the Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching Classic Cup in his honor. (gcl)
 Established 1998 |  Dr. Carl Men-Ky Ching |  Graham with Carl's Hong Kong office in 2005 |
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