The SAR squad may have been hit by the retirement of key players, but coach Chan Chi-choi is hoping the two teams qualify for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals for the first time as the regional showdown gets under way in Melbourne today.
Five players, including Tam Kai-chuen and Ng Ching, quit after November's All-China Games, but Chan said they would make a determined bid for the finals in Guangzhou in May.
The women's team narrowly missed an Uber Cup finals place two years ago when they suffered an agonising loss to Indonesia in a playoff after defeating the same side in a group clash. Hong Kong made appearances in the finals as the hosts in 1996 and 1998.
Chan has high hopes for his women's team, led by former Chinese national player Wang Chen, although his five-member Uber Cup squad is the smallest competing in Melbourne. 'We almost made it two years ago and I hope we can realise our dream this time,' Chan said ahead of today's clash against Singapore.
'The impact of the retirements of Ng and Chan Meimei was not as great as that of our men's team because our top players are still here. The draw for the girls also favours us,' he said.
Hong Kong will have the most to fear from Singapore and Japan for the two top spots in their group, which is completed by Taiwan and Malaysia. The winners of the two groups, plus the winner of the playoff between the two second-placed teams, advance to the finals.
