Hong Kong dominate in Calgary as Ho Tze-lok captures fifth squash tour title, beating Chan Sin-yuk in the final

Hong Kong’s top-ranked player overcomes compatriot Chan Sin-yuk in five games in the Women’s Squash Week final

The Hong Kong team have been training and playing overseas because of Covid-19 restrictions in the city, with their next stop in Cairo

Reading Time:2 minutes

Ho Tze-lok with her trophy in Calgary. Photo: Hong Kong Squash

Published: 6:15pm, 7 Mar 2022

Ho Tze-lok clinched her fifth squash tour title, beating compatriot Chan Sin-yuk in Canada on Sunday, as the Hong Kong squash team continued an overseas assignment that started in October when the Covid-19 pandemic limited opportunities at home.

The 26-year-old was fully stretched by her younger teammate in the Women’s Squash Week final in Calgary before coming through in five tough games, 14-16, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, to lift the trophy. It was the second five-game win in a row for the champion after pulling off a surprise victory over top seed and home favourite, Danielle Letourneau, the world number 20, in the previous round.

Champion Ho Tze-lok (right) and runner-up Chan Sin-yuk, also from Hong Kong. Photo: Hong Kong Squash

“I feel so delighted to overcome the top seed and then even getting this title,” Ho, who last won a tournament in New Zealand in 2019, said. “In fact, I am a bit tired from these non-stop tournaments recently but I am very happy to see some improvement in my game.

“Our next tournament will be the CIB Black Ball Open in Cairo, which is a platinum event on the women’s world tour featuring all the top players. It’s going to be another difficult task.”

Ho will meet England’s Lucy Turmel, the world number 26, in Egypt in what is expected to be a close match. If the Hong Kong player can survive that task, she is likely to face another tough encounter against Egypt’s 2020 winner, Hania El Hammamy, the No 3 seed.

Hong Kong’s Ho Tze-lok stretches for a return against India’s Sunayna Kuruvilla (not pictured) during the women’s pool B squash team event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Photo: AFP

After the retirement of star players Annie Au Wing-chi and Joey Chan Ho-ting in 2020, Hong Kong women’s team have been in transition, with Ho, Liu Tsz-ling, Tong Tsz-wing, Lee Ka-yi and 20- year-old Chan Sin-yuk fighting for the top spot. With a career-high world ranking of 36, Ho is leading the battle. Liu is the next-best ranked player at 44, followed by Tong in 50 while Lee is 54.