Tough Christmas break for juniors

Hong Kong's up-and-coming talent will depart for Britain this week to take part in two gruelling junior tournaments over the Christmas break.

An 11-strong squad leave Hong Kong tomorrow and will play in the Scottish and British Junior Opens against some of the finest junior squash players in the world.

Jane Li, senior sports development officer with Hong Kong Squash, said the aim of the two-week tour was to give the SAR's juniors more exposure at the highest level.

'Five of our players in this squad took part in this competition last year, but for the rest it is a totally new experience,' she said.

'Part of our development programme is to get our young players playing in hard competitions regularly . . . it is a good opportunity.

'The time away is also a good opportunity for them to get some hard training in between the competitions,' she added.

Five of the Hong Kong contingent were entered in the boys under-19 category, and were using the trip to prepare for next year's World Junior Men's Championships, Li said.

'This is all part of their buildup for the Worlds,' she added.

SQUAD Hong Kong squad for the Scottish Junior Open on December 26-30 and British Junior Open January 2-8: Boys' Under-19 - Vincent Cheung Cheuk-yin, Adrian Fong Tin-yau, Yan Ka-ho, Roger Ngan Lun-cheung, Billy Chan Ying-sheung; Boys' Under-14 - So Pak-hei, Choi Tung-yin, Dick Lau Siu-wai, Chiu Ho-ming; Girls' Under-16 - Karen Lau Sin-ying, Akansha Hazari.