SAR young brigade aim to make world's top 16
Hong Kong hope a combination of young talent and a successful protest over seedings will put them back in the women's elite.
Star player Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin leads a youthful squash squad aiming for a top-16 finish in the World Team Women's Championships beginning in Sheffield, England, tomorrow. The SAR will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 18th at the previous championships two years ago in Stuttgart, Germany.
Asian Championships silver medallist Chiu, 22, and experienced teammate Christina Mak Wai-ying will be supported by maturing young players Elise Ng Jia-yunn, 20, and Karen Lau Siu-ying, 17, the latter making her world team debut, when they take the court against Brazil tomorrow.
Hong Kong's hopes of making the top-16 playoffs were boosted by a successful appeal to the World Squash Federation, resulting in them overtaking Malaysia in the seedings, which were partly based on results from this week's World Open singles in Edinburgh.
The SAR were originally seeded 13-18th - behind number 11 Malaysia - but objected on the grounds that no Malaysian players had competed in Edinburgh and that the country's top player, Asian Championships winner Nicol David, would not be involved in the team event.
The federation agreed and promoted Hong Kong to 12, with Denmark moving up one place to 11. The higher seeding means Hong Kong face just one top-12 seed in their group instead of two. The top two teams from six groups, plus the four best third-placed teams, qualify for the last 16. Top seeds England are expected to win the SAR's group but Choi is confident his players can beat Italy and Brazil.
