Annie holds Hong Kong flag high

Teenage squash star wins silver medal at the British Open

Annie Au Wing-chi did Hong Kong proud earlier this month when she clinched a silver medal at the British Junior Open, which is regarded as the Grand Prix of international junior squash tournaments.

This is the highest achievement by a Hong Kong individual at the British Junior Open.

The 18-year-old got into the final after a series of sterling performances, winning all the earlier games in straight sets. Annie took less than half an hour to win the early matches.

Her opponent in the final was Camille Serme of France, whom Annie had faced at last year's World Junior Women's Squash Championship. She lost to Camille in the semi-finals there and finished third.

But, at the British Junior Open final, Annie started strongly, winning the first two games 9-7, 9-2 before Camille rallied back to clinch the next three games 9-3, 9-3, 9-7.

'I'm happy with the achievement. Last time [in the World Junior Women's Squash Championship] I lost to Serme in straight sets,' Annie said. 'I'm glad that I could win the first two sets this time. However, I lost concentration in the third set and Serme adapted to my tactics and overcame me.'

Annie said she would not take part in major overseas competitions until her A-Level exam is over.

She is the first Hong Kong player to win a medal in the under-19 category of this major junior tournament.

Annie took up squash six years ago and has become a key player of the Hong Kong team. She is now ranked 49th in the world.

Hong Kong Squash executive director Karl Mak Ming-lok was proud of Annie's achievement. He said that Annie is a talented player and has shown a great deal of improvement.

Hong Kong sent a seven-member squad to the event in Sheffield, including Annie's younger brother, Leo Au Chun-min. Leo also performed well in the boys' under-19 category. He took the early round matches in straight games to get into the quarter-finals, where he faced a tough task against Adrian Waller of the United Kingdom.

It was a hard-fought match as each player won sets in turn before Adrian clinched the tie 8-10, 9-6, 2-9, 9-6, 9-3. Leo finished seventh, while Adrian came fifth.

For more details, visit www.bjosquash.com/