Sorry seems to be the hardest word on the professional squash circuit. But there was plenty of it around yesterday as up-and-coming Asian star Ong Beng Hee showed his more illustrious peers how the game should be played.
While seeded players Anthony Hill, Martin Heath and Del Harris were bundled out in the second round of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open and Ahmed Barada retired hurt, qualifier Ong won the hearts of the small crowd at the Hong Kong Park Indoor Games Hall with a gentlemanly display of squash.
Malaysian Ong met the same fate as Hill, Heath and Harris. But in defeat he stood tall, displaying a courteous respect towards opponent Paul Johnson of England throughout the 76-minute match. Ong said 'sorry' more than 'let', the normal cry of the squash player seeking solace in desperation, as he bravely went down 15-12, 14-17, 15-12, 15-14 to world number six Johnson.
'It's just a game,' said Ong when asked about his refreshing attitude where he even asked the referee if a point won by him was truly good as he had doubts if the ball was up.
Laughing, the 20-year-old Ong, ranked 34 in the world, added: 'I'm just starting out on the professional circuit and I don't want to offend these guys who have been around a long time. That is why I say sorry all the time I bump into my opponent.'
Quaint and perhaps naive in the big world out there. But his innocence was welcomed by the crowd who willed him on against Johnson as he came back from one game down to level the score, winning the last five points to win the second game 17-14.
