Macau's young team aim to serve surprise
Former Hong Kong coach Chris Clark will be expected to pull off a miracle after he was appointed as coach of the fledgling Macau team for the East Asian Games in December.
'They approached me and I started coaching in July. This is the third national team I have been in charge of, and I'm really proud to be helping them,' he said.
Clark coached the Malaysia national squad from 1981 to 1986 before coming here. He was Hong Kong head coach until 1999 before moving into business.
Squash is new to Macau. Four years ago, when the enclave hosted the East Asian Games, squash was not part of the programme. But with Hong Kong including it this time, Macau authorities set up a team.
'I go there four nights a week, from Monday to Thursday, to train the squad. The good news is that it is a very young team, but it will be a huge challenge,' Clark said.
Hong Kong will be firm favourites in the squash competition, which has seven gold medals on offer - in the singles, doubles and team events of men's, women's and mixed categories. There has been talk of a possible clean sweep of all seven silvers, too.
World number 15 Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin and number 17 Annie Au Wing-chi will lead the women's challenge.
Dick Lau Siu-wai is expected to face a strong challenge from teammate Max Lee Ho-yin in the men's section. The eight-strong Hong Hong squad could land a staggering payout of more than HK$1.5 million if they make a clean sweep of medals.
Hong Kong Squash pledged an extra HK$400,000 for the gold and silver medallists this week, raising total prize money to HK$1.57 million.
