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11-Oct-06:
Chiu goes all out for Hong Kong honour
HK Squash reports |
 Rebecca
Chiu’s hope of excelling at the Cathay Pacific Swiss Privilege
Hong Kong Open 2006 has been boosted by a successful stint in the
recently concluded
women’s world
team championship.
Although Hong Kong managed a ninth overall in the Canadian world
event, the SAR girls, led by Chiu, upset squash powerhouses
Australia and the US respectively. Chiu, currently ranked 14th in
the world, also overcame world number eight Madeline Perry of
Ireland in the group stage.
The Hong Kong number one will take on Tricia Chuah of
Malaysia in the first round, a player whom she may meet again at the
Asian Games in Doha later this year, and should Chiu go through,
which is not unlikely, she will be put under a stern test against
Vicky Botwright of England.
 The
lady from Manchester failed to make the podium in the singles at
this year’s Commonwealth Games, but made up the loss by clinching
silver and bronze medals in the mixed and women's doubles.
Botwright, the world number five, will meet Hong Kong’s wild card
entry Christina Mak in the opening round where on paper she
should have little difficulty in disposing of the host player, and
her possible encounter against home favourite Chiu would prove to be
an interesting match.
New Generation seek breakthrough
While Chiu will carry SAR’s hopes at the Hong Kong Open, a young
generation of Hong Kong women’s squash also set their sights on
making breakthrough in the star-studded event.
World junior team champions of Joey Chan, Annie Au,
Chiu Ka-kei and Leung Shin-nga will be featured in the
qualifying rounds together with Elise Ng Jia-yunn and
Karen Lau Siu-ying.
 "Our
youngsters are of great potential, but they still have a lot
to learn at this stage. I would be happy to see them reach the
second round of the qualifiers.
"Ng should be able to perform better as she has more
experience on the professional circuit, but asking them to
make it into the main draw is too much."
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In men’s event, Wong Wai-Hang
faces an uphill battle against world number one Amr Shabana
of Egypt in the opening round. Wong, who currently ranks 77th in the
world, says it will be a good opportunity to learn from one of the
world’s best players and has nothing to lose.
Other Hong Kong players will need to go through the qualifiers
before making it into the main draw of this world class event. They
include Roger Ngan, Dick Lau, Anson Kwong,
Chiu Ho-fai, Lau Siu-nam, Chan Kai-chi and Yu
Fung, Max Lee Ho-yin, Leo Au Chun-ming and Fung
Ji-yang.
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22-Sep-06:
Shabana and David top
Hong Kong Draws
HK Squash reports
World number one Amr Shabana of Egypt, who has yet to win a major
title since the Bermuda PSA Masters in April, will be out to prove his
reputation when he kicks off his Cathay Pacific Swiss Privilege Hong Kong
Open 2006 campaign in October.
The 26-year-old should have little trouble in overcoming Wong Wai-hang
of the hosts in the opening round. A victory over Wong, currently ranks
77th in the world, will bring an interesting match as Shabana is likely to
face French player Gregory Gaultier.
France's bright new hope pulled off a sensational upset to dethrone
Shabana in this year’s World Open in Cairo in August after a thrilling
four-game semi-final in front of the home crowd.
However, Gaultier, a 23-year-old from Aix-en-Provence, must beat Adrian
Grant of England in the second round before setting up the clash so as
to repeat his success in the world event. Both Gaultier and Grant should
have little difficulty in the opening round after being drawn against
qualifiers in their respective matches.
In the bottom half of the draw, reigning world champion David Palmer
of Australia, world number three Frenchman Thierry Lincou and newly
crowned Dunlop British Open champion Nick Matthew of England have
all been drawn against qualifiers in the opening stage.
Should the form book hold true, Palmer will take on the Yorkshireman in
the quarterfinals before reaching the next stage where he is due to face
Lincou.
But Matthew will certainly make life difficult for Palmer as he became the
first English home-grown champion of the world's most prestigious event
for 67 years when he defeated Lincou in a nail-biting five-game British
Open final on Monday.
David
the one to beat
In the women’s draw, the seemingly unbeatable Nicol David of
Malaysia will definitely be the one to beat in this star-studded field.
The world’s top player extended her unbeaten record since the Commonwealth
Games in March when she needed just 41 minutes to sweep past Australia’s
two-time champion Rachael Grinham in the British Open final.
The two are set to meet in the semifinals in Hong Kong, and whether the
Malaysian can repeat her magic will be interesting to see.
World number two Vanessa Atkinson of the Netherlands will lead the
bottom half of the draw where the two Hong Kong’s representatives have
also been placed.
Rebecca Chiu, who is enjoying her best form on the circuit with a
highest world ranking of 14th, will take on Tricia Chuah of Malaysia in
the first round, a player that she may meet again in the Asian Games in
Doha later this year.
Another SAR player Christina Mak, a wild-card entry for the
main-draw, faces a tougher first round match as she needs to beat Vicky
Botwright, the world number five, before a possible clash against her
compatriot Chiu in the next stage.
Hong Kong's World Junior Women's Team Champions of Joey Chan, Annie Au,
Chiu Ka-kei and Leung Shin-nga will be featured in the qualifying
rounds together with their men’s junior counterparts Max Lee Ho-yin,
Leo Au Chun-ming and Fung Ji-yang.
The other Hong Kong men’s players in the qualifiers are Roger Ngan,
Dick Lau, Anson Kwong, Chiu Ho-fai, Lau Siu-nam, Chan Kai-chi and Yu Fung.
The women’s qualifiers also include Elise Ng Jia-yunn and Karen
Lau Siu-ying.
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HONG
KONG DRAWS
OFF TO THE MALL
A brand-new all-glass, portable, clear-view squash court will be
erected in the Stars Atrium of Plaza Hollywood, one of the biggest
shopping malls in Hong Kong , when the tournament reaches the
semi-finals and final stages.
People from all walks of life will have the opportunity to view the
top class event when shopping at the mall, while players will also
encounter a kind of new experience of playing in front of a big
crowd. |
HONG
KONG DRAWS |
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Previews
"Rebecca
had a very good run at the world team event, and her win over
Perry has bolstered her confidence of doing well again in the
Hong Kong Open.
