Doubles win highlight of rewarding week for HK
HONGKONG'S Ng Pak-kum and Chan Siu-kwong took their men's doubles partnership to new heights by winning the Portuguese Open title in Lisbon.
It was Ng's and Chan's first Grand Prix win on the circuit since they teamed-up four years ago.
The Hongkong pair, ranked 19th in the world, caused an upset by defeating ninth-ranked Russians Andrej Antropov and Nikolai Zuev with a come-from-behind 10-15, 15-6, 15-10 victory.
Their performance at the weekend highlighted a brilliant week for the Hongkong squad who appeared in all five finals - all against Russian opponents.
Chan Kin-ngai lost to Antropov 8-15, 4-15 in the men's singles final and Wong Chun-fan also found an opponent too good in Marina Andrievskaya, losing 7-11, 2-11 in the women's singles final.
Andrievskaya had defeated another Hongkong player, Chan Oi-ni in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Hongkong also reached the final of the mixed doubles but Chan Siu-kwong and Chung Hoi-yuk found Zuev and Marina Yakusheva too strong, losing 17-15, 15-11.
Chung and Wong were women's doubles finalists as well but were beaten by Andrievskaya and Yakusheva 6-15, 15-5, 15-6.
Hongkong coach Chan Chi-choi said it was the territory's best performance in a Grand Prix event.
''Although the opposition wasn't so strong, we still did very well to reach all the finals.
''Chan and Ng showed that they can handle the pressure at the top by beating a pair ranked in the world's top 10,'' said Chan.
''The players seemed to have learnt a lot from this experience and it should put them in good stead for future tournaments,'' he added.
The Hongkong team left Lisbon for Stockholm today to take part in the Swedish Open, the second stop of their European Grand Prix tour, which begins tomorrow.
Ng and Chan and female player Chung will represent the territory in the prestigious All-England event in two weeks.
