A new-look Hong Kong squad will be focused on defending their women's world junior team title before a home crowd next month, and officials are confident of success.
When the Hoe Hin White Flower Ointment World Junior Women's Championships take place here for the first time at Cornwall Street and Boundary Street sport centres from August 1 to 11, Hong Kong will be without two of the players - Joey Chan Hoi-ling and Chiu Ka-kei - who helped make them champions. .
Chan and Chiu won their respective rubbers in the final in Belgium two years ago when Hong Kong pulled off a 2-1 upset over pre-tournament favourites Egypt to clinch the first junior world title.
'They have both passed the age limit for junior events of 19, but we are glad to see two new promising players come through the ranks,' said Hong Kong head coach Tony Choi Yuk-kwan.
'The new pair are obviously without the experience of their predecessors, but they have proved a force in junior competitions, and the world event is the perfect stage to test their ability.'
Newcomers, the 15-year-old Liu Tsz-ling and 16-year-old Tong Tsz-wing will join Annie Au Wing-chi and Leung Shin-nga, the two other members in Belgium two years ago.
'This is my last chance to appear in a world junior event and hopefully we can achieve a favourable result,' said Au, who also won the Asian junior title in January.