|
| |
|
KCC PSA HK Challenge Cup 2023 |
|
KCC PSA HK Challenge Cup 2023
Men's Draw
16 - 20 Jan
Jordan, Hong Kong, $12k |
ROUND TWO
17 Jan |
QUARTERS
18 Jan |
SEMIS
19 Jan |
FINAL
20 Jan |
|
[1] Wong Chi Him (HKG)
8-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 (42m)
JaeJin Yoo (KOR) |
Wong Chi Him
11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (25m)
Andes Ling |
Andes Ling
11-7, 11-4, 12-14, 11-8 (48m)
Ho Ka Hei |
Andes Ling
12-10, 13-11, 11-1 (29m)
Abdullah Almezayen |
[9/16] Andes Ling (HKG)
11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)
[6] Harley Lam (HKG) |
[8] Wee Ming Hock (MAS)
11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (52m)
[9/16] Rahul Baitha (IND) |
Wee Ming Hock
11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 13-15, 13-11 (67m)
Ho Ka Hei |
[9/16] Ho Ka Hei (HKG)
11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (32m)
[4] Abdelaziz Hegazy (EGY) |
[3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)
11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (17m)
[9/16] Naoki Hayashi (JPN) |
Abdullah Almezayen
11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (25m)
Matthew Lai |
Abdullah Almezayen
11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9 (38m)
Tang Ming Hong |
[9/16] Matthew Lai (HKG)
12-10, 11-4, 11-4 (30m)
[5] Chung Yat Long (HKG) |
[7] Tomotaka Endo (JPN)
11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (24m)
[9/16] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) |
Tomotaka Endo
13-11, 11-4, 11-7 (32m)
Tang Ming Hong |
[9/16] Wailok To (HKG)
11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6 (32m)
[2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) |
[1] Wong Chi Him (HKG) bye
JaeJin Yoo (KOR) bt [9/16] Hoony Lee (KOR) 11-13, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6 (59m)
[9/16] Andes Ling (HKG) bt Pardeep Malik (IND) 11-2, 11-4, 11-5 (19m)
[6] Harley Lam (HKG) bye
[8] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) bye
[9/16] Rahul Baitha (IND) bt [WC] Law Arthur Pak Ki (HKG) 11-5, 11-9,
13-11 (21m)
[9/16] Ho Ka Hei (HKG) bt Andrik Lim (MAS) 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 11-2 (36m)
[4] Abdelaziz Hegazy (EGY) bye
[3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) bye
[9/16] Naoki Hayashi (JPN) bt Anson Wong (HKG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (26m)
[9/16] Matthew Lai (HKG) bt Wilson Chan (HKG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (25m)
[5] Chung Yat Long (HKG) bye
[7] Tomotaka Endo (JPN) bye
[9/16] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) bt Mohammad Almasoud (KUW) 11-7, 11-8, 18-16
(35m)
[9/16] Wailok To (HKG) bt [WC] Tam Tsz Shing (HKG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
(25m)
[2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bye |
|
KCC PSA HK Challenge Cup 2023
Women's Draw
16 - 20 Jan
Jordan, Hong Kong, $12k |
ROUND TWO
17 Jan |
QUARTERS
18 Jan |
SEMIS
19 Jan |
FINAL
20 Jan |
|
[1] Aira Azman (MAS)
11-2, 11-7, 11-6 (18m)
Dong Ju Song (KOR) |
Aira Azman
7-11, 11-5, 13-11,
6-11, 11-6 (38m)
Toby Tse |
Aira Azman
11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (22m)
Heng Wai Wong |
Aira Azman
11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (24m)
Cheng Nga Ching |
[8] Toby Tse (HKG)
11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-1 (28m)
[9/16] Yura Choe (KOR) |
Heng Wai Wong (MAS)
11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8 (39m)
[6] Nour Ramy (EGY) |
Heng Wai Wong
11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (32m)
Ching Hei Fung |
[3] Ching Hei Fung (HKG)
11-2, 11-7, 11-6 (23m)
[WC] Leung Ka Huen (HKG) |
[4] Akari Midorikawa (JPN)
11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6 (30m)
[WC] Cheung Tsz Ching (HKG) |
Akari Midorikawa
11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (36m)
Kwong Ena |
Akari Midorikawa
11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)
Cheng Nga Ching |
[WC] Kwong Ena (HKG)
8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9 (49m)
[7] Salma El Alfy (EGY) |
[9/16] Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG)
11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (21m)
[5] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) |
Wong Po Yui Kirstie
12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 (29m)
Cheng Nga Ching |
[9/16] Wai Sze Wing (HKG)
11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (24m)
[2] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) |
[1] Aira Azman (MAS) bye
Dong Ju Song (KOR) bt [9/16] Liu Kwai Chi (MAC) 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (22m)
[9/16] Yura Choe (KOR) bt Mariko Tam (HKG) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (22m)
[8] Toby Tse (HKG) bye
[6] Nour Ramy (EGY) bye
Heng Wai Wong (MAS) bt [9/16] Mingyeong Heo (KOR) 11-9, 12-10, 11-7
(26m)
[WC] Leung Ka Huen (HKG) bt [9/16] Ingy Hammouda (EGY) 11-7, 7-11,
13-11, 11-8 (37m)
[3] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) bye
[4] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) bye
[WC] Cheung Tsz Ching (HKG) bt [9/16] Leia Lee Zi Fang (SGP) 11-9, 11-6,
11-8 (19m)
[WC] Kwong Ena (HKG) bt [9/16] Lam Po Ying (HKG) 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4,
11-6 (38m)
[7] Salma El Alfy (EGY) bye
[5] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) bye
[9/16] Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) bt Lim Jee Nee (SGP) 11-6, 7-11, 11-2,
11-6 (25m) |
Final
Almezayen and Azman Victorious
Kuwait’s Abdullah Almezayen and Malaysian Aira Azman took the titles at
the KCC PSA Challenge Cup in Hong Kong this week.
The Malaysian came into the women’s Challenger 10 level competition as
the top seed, and she showed her class throughout the tournament,
winning three of her four matches without dropping a game.
After receiving a bye through to the second round, she started her
campaign at the Kowloon Cricket Club with an 18-minute victory over
South Korea’s Dong ju Song.
She then had to go the distance against No.8 seed Toby Tse, after the
Hongkonger fought back from 2-1 down to send the match into a decider.
That was her only real battle of the week though, as a win in five was
then followed by a straight games win over compatriot Heng Wai Wong in
the semi-finals.
The final saw Azman go up against Cheng Nga Ching in a contest between
the top two seeds, but the World No.69 was in control throughout. She
won 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 to claim her first title of the season, and her
second Challenger 10 level crown.
In the men’s event, Kuwait’s Abdullah Almezayen once again showed why he
was a former top 40 player, as he secured his second title of the
2022-2023 campaign.
His week started with comfortable victories against Japan’s Naoki
Hayashi and Hong Kong’s Matthew Lai, with the Kuwaiti spending just 42
minutes on court between his opening two matches of the week.
Almezayen’s semi-final clash with No.2 seed Tang Ming Hong in a
four-game battle. The Kuwaiti led early, but Hong fought back to win the
second game and level the match. From there, though, it was the No.3
seed that was able to control the tie, and win in four.
In the final, the former World No.34 came up against the unseeded Andes
Ling, and it was a struggle for the Kuwaiti to start with. He needed
tie-breaks to win the opening two games, taking them 12-10 and 13-11,
before cruising to the third game 11-1 after less than half an hour. |
Semi Finals
Hong Kong Representation In Both Finals
The finals of the KCC PSA Challenge Cup are set, and host nation Hong
Kong will be represented in the finals of both draws.
In the men’s event, the unseeded Andes Ling is through to the final. The
25-year-old got the better of top seed Wong Chi Him in the quarter
finals, and he downed fellow Hongkonger Ho Ka Hei in the last four to
book his spot in the final on Friday evening.
Ling had won their one previous match-up back in the summer of 2022, and
he started the stronger of the two in this contest as well. He won the
opening two games comfortably, but there was a fightback from Hei in the
third, with the World No.319 winning it 14-12. However, Ling took the
fourth 11-8 to book his place in a first Tour final.
He will take on Kuwait’s Abdullah Almezayen in the final on Friday,
after the former World No.34 got the better of Tang Ming Hong, also in
four games. The pair were level after two, but the Kuwaiti was then able
to pull away and win the next couple of games to advance.
The Hong Kong representative in the women’s event will be No.2 seed
Cheng Nga Ching. She is through to the final after defeating Japanese
No.2 Akari Midorikawa in a comfortable straight games win. The World
No.82 won the first 11-7 before then only dropping four points in each
of the next two games to book her spot in the final.
She will face World No.69, and the tournament’s top seed, Aira Azman, in
the final on Friday. Azman downed compatriot Heng Wai Wong in straight
games to move through to fourth career final, and she will aim to win a
second Tour title tomorrow.
You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the
PSA Challenger Tour’s
Facebook,
Twitter.
|
Quarter Finals
Ling Downs Top Seed In Surprising Day
Quarter finals day in Kowloon turned out to be a surprising one, with
Andes Ling downing top seed Wong Chi Him in one of several upsets.
Ling, the unseeded 25-year-old, got the better of Wong Him Chi, who sits
more than 150 places above him in the World Rankings. He got the job
done in straight games, with an incredible performance, dropping just 16
points. He won 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 in just 25 minutes to book his spot in
the last four.
He will now take on another unseeded Hongkonger in Ho Ka Hei. The World
No.319 got the better of No.8 seed Wee Ming Hock, downing the Malaysian
in a lengthy five-game battle. He won out 13-11 in the fifth to secure
his semi-final spot.
The other match in the last four will pit No.2 seed Tang Ming Hong and
No.3 seed Abdullah Almezayen against each other, after both came through
their respective quarter final matches in straight games.
In the women’s draw, there was just a single upset, as Malaysia’s Heng
Wai Wong downed No.3 seed Ching Fei Hung in straight hames. She took an
11-9, 11-8, 11-7 victory to book her last four place, where she will now
take on compatriot and top seed Aira Azman.
The other semi-final in the women’s event will see Japan’s Akari
Midorikawa take on the last remaining Hongkonger in No.2 seed Cheng Nga
Ching. She defeated compatriot Wong Po You Kirstie, while Midorikawa got
the better of wildcard Kwong Ena.
The semi-finals of the KCC PSA Challenge Cup will take place on
Thursday, January 19 at the Kowloon Cricket Club. You can keep up to
date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s
Facebook,
Twitter.
|
Round 2
Wildcard Ena Continues Dream Debut
The Kowloon Cricket Club plays host to the KCC PSA
Challenge Cup
The surprises kept coming at the KCC PSA Challenge Cup in Hong Kong,
with wildcard Kwong Ena securing an upset for the second straight day.
15-year-old Ena is making her debut on the PSA Tour this week, and she
got the better of compatriot Lam Po Ying in the opening round, coming
from two games down to take a five-game victory. That did not seem to
affect her at all, as she came through another five-gamer on day two in
Kowloon.
After downing Ying in the first round, Ena’s reared was a tie with No.7
seed Salma El Aify, who sits more than 200 places above her in the World
Rankings. It was the Egyptian that took the lead on two occasions, but
both times, Ena fought back, and she saved herself in the fourth,
winning it on a tie-break 12-10. The Hongkonger continued that momentum
into the deciding fifth game, and she clinched it 11-9 to secure another
incredible win. She will now take on No.4 seed Akari Midorikawa, the
Japanese No.2, in the quarter finals on Wednesday.
Heng Wai Wong also got the better of Egyptian opposition in Tuesday
afternoon in Kowloon. The Hongkonger overcame No.6 seed Nour Ramy in
four games, regrouping after dropping the second game 11-5. Wong Po You
Kirstie also secured a surprise win, downing Malaysia’s No.5 seed Ooi
Kah Yan in straight games.
There were also three surprise victors on the second day in the men’s
event, with three home hopes getting the better of seeded opposition to
make it through to the quarter finals in Kowloon.
Ho Ka Hei, the World No.319, took on the tournament’s No.4 seed, Egypt’s
Abdelaziz Hegazy. It was a comfortable win for the Hongkonger in the
end, as he ran out the winner in straight games, with 11-7, 11-5, and
11-8 scorelines.
Elsewhere, Matthew Lai defeated No.5 seed Chung Yat Long and Andes Ling
got the better of No.6 seed Harley Lam, both in all-Hong Kong affairs.
The pair both won in three to advance to the quarter finals of the
Challenger 10 level competition.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or
follow on
PSAChallengerTourLivestreams,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
events will also be streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Round 1
Wildcard Trio Through To Second Round
The opening day of the KCC PSA Challenge Cup took place in Hong Kong on
Monday, with a trio of wildcard winners in the women’s draw.
Hong Kong’s Leung Ka Huen, Cheung Tsz Ching and Kwong Ena all secured
opening day victories at the Kowloon Cricket Club, knocking out members
of the 9/16 seeding bracket in the process.
Huen got the better of Egypt’s Ingy Hammouda, the World No.156, in a
four-game contest. The Egyptian won the second game 11-7 to level the
match, but a third game tie-break went the way of the wildcard, and Huen
continued that momentum into the fourth, which she claimed 11-8 to
secure victory.
Elsewhere, Kwong Ena got the better of compatriot Lam Po Ying, fighting
back from two games down to defeat her fellow Hongkonger. She won the
last three games quite comfortably to win in five. Cheung Tsz Ching also
secured a surprise win, with the wildcard defeating Singaporean No.2
Leia Lee Zi Fang in straight games.
There was just a single surprise in the men’s draw, with Jaejin Yoo
beating Hoony Lee in an all-South Korean clash. You came through in four
games to knock out the man sitting almost 100 places above him in the
World Rankings. He will now take on top seed Wong Chi Him in the second
round on Tuesday.
The KCC PSA Challenge Cup continues on Tuesday, January 17, with the
seeded players in both draws coming into the second round. |
Preview
The only event on Tour this week will be the KCC PSA Challenge Cup,
which will begin in Hong Kong on Monday, January 16.
A pair of home favourites, in Wong Chi Him and Tang Ming Hong, will be
the leading two players in the men’s draw. The former, the top seed,
will be looking to secure the KCC Challenge Cup crown for a fourth time,
having won the event in three successive years from 2015 to 2017.
They will be joined by Chung Yat Long and Harley Lam among the top eight
seeds, with Lam coming into this tournament as the defending champion
from December 2021, when he defeated Matthew Lai in the final.
The rest of the top eight seeds will be made up of Kuwaiti Abdullah
Almezayen, Egypt’s Abdelaziz Hegazy, Japan’s Tomotaka Endo and Malaysian
Wee Ming Hock. The Kuwaiti will be looking to add to the title he won on
home soil earlier this season.
Malaysia’s Aira Azman will be the top seed for the women’s competition,
with the World No.69 aiming to take the title away from Hong Kong’s
Cheng Nga Ching, the No.2 seed. Ching won the title in December 2021,
beating Toby Tse in the final. Tse, along with Ching Hei Fung, will be
the other two home hopes among the top eight seeds.
Azman will be joined by compatriot Ooi Kah Yan in the top eight seeds,
while the Egyptian duo of Nour Ramy and Salma El Aify, along with
Japanese junior Akari Midorikawa, will also be seeded for the
competition.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or
follow on
PSAChallengerTourLivestreams,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
events will also be streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
|
|
