Hong Kong lived up to expectations yesterday, opening their account at the inaugural East Asian Team Championships in Daegu, South Korea, with two easy victories.
Fielding a full squad in the opening match of the mixed team event, Hong Kong had little difficulty thrashing Macau 5-0. The line-up of Wong Wai-hang, Dick Lau Siu-wai, Roger Ngan Lun-cheung, Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin and Christina Mak Pui-hin proved far too strong for the Macanese.
Hong Kong continued their winning streak in the afternoon against Japan despite the substitution of men's number one Wong, who was replaced by youngster Anson Kwong Yu-shun. Only Mak failed, at the hands of Chinatsu Matsui in the women's second match, as the four other SAR players coasted to easy wins for a 4-1 victory.
Coach Tony Choi Yuk-kwun said the SAR team were hardly tested on the opening day. 'We played our normal games and we were too good for our opponents. The Hong Kong team have been working very hard over the last couple of years and we hold a considerable edge on these opponents,' he said.
Hong Kong will meet Taiwan and China today and Choi is confident they will repeat their success. 'The two young Chinese teams are still lagging behind us and we should be able to win again tomorrow. Our real test will only come in the final match against hosts South Korea and we need to play at our best if we are to beat them,' he said.
The event is being held to raise the profile of squash in the region, with a view to adding squash to the list of medal sports for the next East Asian Games which will take place in Hong Kong in 2009.
