(16.12.2015) Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2015 is about to start after two weeks. Stepping into its 30th anniversary, Hong Kong Open will gather the top ten men’s and women’s players from the world to compete the champion title while Hong Kong women’s players, Au Wing Chi Annie and Liu Tsz Ling will also participate in the main event. Keeping up with their recent good form, the two local stars are excited to perform at the glass court in front of the supporting home crowds.
Many new stars were born in Hong Kong Open from the past thirty years, Annie Au and Liu Tsz Ling have been immersing in this international event since they were a junior. Liu reminisced her first experience in Hong Kong Open was to watch the exhibition match playing between her current coach, Chiu Wing Yin, Rebecca and the former world No.1 Jonathan Power at Hong Kong Park Sports Centre. “This was my first opportunity to watch the world No.1 playing on court in front of me and I was really impressed especially the exhibition match was held in a portable four sided glass court.”
The four sided glass court is not only a dream arena but also a symbol for all the squash players. Most of the highlighted matches, semi-finals and finals of the world-class events will be taken place in the glass court. The local women’s No.1, Annie Au also has her unique memories of the glass court, “We never had the chance to play at the glass courts when we were juniors so my brother and I were so excited when we could watch the legendary players playing in front of us in the HK Open. We really respect them and want to have a picture with them.”
Annie and Liu Tsz Ling are going to participate in Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2015 and to meet Habiba Mohamed from Egypt and the defending champion Nicol David from Malaysia respectively. Annie reached the semi-finals for twice and gave the stunning performances at the glass court in Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Comparing with the previous results, the tournament becomes more tough and competitve year by year, Annie just hopes to play at her standard, “after the latest draw is updated, I will be playing against Habiba Mohamed whom I have met in the final of HKFC International 25 this May and I beat her at five games. I may then face Camile Serme from France in the second round. Although I finished rather well in the Qatar classic, I would give my best on every game and see how far I could reach.”
Liu Tsz Ling will enter the main event via the wild card. After winning her 4th champion title of this year and also her biggest title in her career last month in India, which boosts up her confidence and enhance her mental stability, “Coming back in the semis or final to win the title, it proves my mental quality is getting stronger which lead me to stay more focus on my game plan. I will be meeting Nicol David in the first round and I am excited that I can play with her at the glass court especially the atmosphere at the glass court is incredible, my target is to take one game at least from Nicol” Liu commented.
The men’s and women’s qualifying rounds of “Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2015” will be held on 29 and 30 November at Hong Kong Football Club. The early stages of main draw will be started from 1 Dec to 4 Dec before moving to the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre for the semis and finals on 5 Dec and 6 Dec.
Tickets are now available at Hong Kong Squash office. Please call 2523 2225 for more details. Free Admission for the qualifying rounds on November 29 and 30. For more tournament information, please contact Hong Kong Squash at 2869 1592.
