Hong Kong missed out on its last chance for a badminton medal at the National Games on Monday, as Angus Ng's campaign in the men's singles came to an end in the quarterfinals.

Ng fell to Wang Zhengxing of Hunan in a hard-fought 2-1 match, narrowly missing a spot in the final four.

The match was a dramatic battle from the start. The first game saw the lead change hands repeatedly, with Ng ultimately clinching it 21-18.

Wang responded by upping the tempo in the second game, racing to a 7-2 lead. Despite the deficit, Ng patiently slowed the rhythm, gradually clawing his way back to narrow the gap to 9-10. The players then traded attacks in a point-for-point struggle, but Wang eventually levelled the match by taking that game 21-19.

In the decisive third game, Ng started with increased speed and intensity but was unable to suppress a resilient Wang, who pulled away to win 21-14.

Despite the loss, the 31-year-old reflected on a journey of significant personal growth since his first National Games when he was just 19.

"From the first time I participated in the National Games, I faced many players from the mainland who were stronger than me and of a very high level," Ng said.

"Now, most of them are younger than me, so I've seen myself at different stages. When competing against strong players from the mainland, I reflect on the changes I’ve made on the court."

Despite being a veteran player, Ng says he still feels the drive to win.

"I still want to win on the court, and my passion hasn't diminished. I hope to maintain my enthusiasm for badminton and my desire for victory to continue pushing forward."