Meet a boxing grandmother who’s ageing well – at 77 she does yoga, 10,000 steps daily, and leads an active social life that includes playing mahjong
- Catherine Leung underwent a double mastectomy in 2019 after a doctor found potentially cancerous cells, at which point she committed to an active lifestyle
- The 77-year-old, who has always had a positive attitude to life, now boxes, walks more than 10,000 steps a day, does yoga, and plays mahjong with her friends
Catherine Leung Lam Yuk-ying might be small in stature, but do not let her size fool you – this 77-year-old Hong Kong grandma can pack a punch.
Once a week in her flat in the city’s West Kowloon neighbourhood, she straps on boxing gloves for a sparring session with a trainer from Qintensity Fitness, a Hong Kong health and wellness consulting firm.
Leung knows the importance of leading a healthy and active life.
In 2019 she underwent a double mastectomy. Also known as a bilateral mastectomy, a surgery in which both breasts are removed at the same time, she had it after her doctor found abnormal and potentially cancerous cells during a cyst-removal operation.
We were so impressed when these ladies took up boxing
It was the third time in as many years that Leung had gone under the knife for the removal of cysts – abnormal, fluid-filled sacs that can develop in tissues anywhere in the body.
Leung’s condition was called stage 0 disease, when abnormal cells that look like cancer cells under a microscope are found only in the place where they first formed.
These cells could become cancerous and spread to normal tissue.
Preventive surgery to have both breasts removed was a serious decision but one Leung does not regret.
Staying active is now part of her daily plan – and she is committed to it.
There is plenty of research on the benefits of walking, including a recent study from researchers at Britain’s Cambridge University that found walking just 11 minutes per day could significantly lower risk of stroke, heart disease and some cancers.
Leung pulls out her phone and shows how far she has walked in a week. It is impressive, but not surprising given her high energy level.
While on the phone, she flicks through photos of her travels. There are also family photos and one of her playing the drums at her 70th birthday celebration.
“I play the drums and my husband plays the guitar and sings. He loves Elvis,” she says, clicking on a video of the 79-year-old belting out a tune by the American rock ’n’ roll legend.
“They only come down to visit when they want to eat something. If not, they just ignore me,” she laughs, placing a bowl of cashew nuts on the table.
There is a growing body of research on the benefits of engaging in social activities. In early 2023, researchers from the West China Hospital of Sichuan University discovered that engaging in frequent social activities is strongly associated with prolonged overall lifespan in older people.
Also in the flat and gloved up is Leung’s best friend and boxing buddy, 80-year-old Jesse Lau. The two met almost 3o years ago in Sydney, having moved to Australia in the early ’90s.
After returning to Hong Kong with their respective partners they continued to explore the world – and play mahjong. “I think our longest mahjong session was 12 hours,” Leung says.
Before taking up boxing, the pair practised yoga. They had sessions in Leung’s flat led by an instructor from Qintensity Fitness.
“We would do some stretching and then some yoga and then play mahjong for a few hours and then stop and stretch,” says Lau, who also does twice-weekly 4km (2.5 mile) walks – four laps of the Happy Valley racetrack near her home.
Kitty Lo, co-founder of Qintensity Fitness, says its classes cater to all ages. She wants more people to follow in Leung and Lau’s inspiring footsteps.
“We were so impressed when these ladies took up boxing,” says Lo, a clinical exercise specialist who is all about championing a prevention-oriented approach to healthcare.
