Rising squash stars shine in Singapore
Hong Kong had four players in the finals of the first Asian Junior Individual Squash Championship held in Singapore at the weekend.
Leo Au Chun-ming, a student at Jockey Club Ti-I College in Sha Tin, and Max Lee Ho-yin, from SKH St Simon's Lui Ming Choi Secondary School in Tuen Mun, clashed in the under-19 final. Max won 9-6, 9-6, 10-8 in 31 minutes.
'It was a good all-round performance from the team and we are happy to come away with a gold medal, three silvers, plus three bronzes,' said Hong Kong Squash development coach, Joe Wong Wai-chung.
'Max was consistent throughout, and Leo did very well to beat a strong Indian opponent in the quarters. He was losing 2-0, but won 3-2.'
Leung Shin-nga, Hong Kong's top-ranked female junior, was a finalist in the under-19 category. The Belilios Public School student lost to Malaysia's Lee Wee Wern 9-1, 6-9, 5-9, 4-9 in 58 minutes.
Another Hong Kong schoolgirl, Tong Tsz-wing, entered the final of the under-15 competition, losing to India's Dipika Pallikal 2-9, 4-9, 5-9.
On her way to the under-19 final, Shin-nga beat her teammate, Annie Au Wing-chi, for the first time in her career.
'Shin-nga was outstanding in the semi-final to win 3-2 against Annie,' said Wong.
Malaysian ace Wee Wern, who beat Hong Kong's Joey Chan Ho-ling in the semi-finals, was too strong for Shin-nga in the title-decider, winning 3-1. Wee Wern is the number one-ranked girl in Asia, while Shin-nga is now number two. Annie is third and Ho-ling is fourth.
Hong Kong sent 12 players for the Singapore event, which attracted 80 participants from eight countries and cities. Nine members of the SAR squad reached at least the third round. Girls Annie, Joey and Liu Tsz-ling all picked up bronze medals for reaching the semi-finals in their respective categories.
The boys - including Max, Leo, Alan Tsang Ho-yin and Fung Kai-yeung - are now focusing on the World Junior Men's Championships to be held in New Zealand in August.
'The worlds will be a very high standard, but this performance will give the boys confidence,' said Wong. 'The Australians and Egyptians will be the favourites in New Zealand. They are very strong.'
The Hong Kong girls won the World Junior Team Championships in Belgium, and the Asian Team Championships in India last year.
