An outdoor court beside the city’s harbour will co-host the Hong Kong Squash Open in four weeks’ time, organisers said, and local players are excited by the prospect.
For the first time, West Kowloon Cultural District will provide a venue for the matches at the Cultural Plaza space outside the Xiqu Centre, in tandem with the tournament’s usual home at the Hong Kong Squash Centre in Central.
Tong Tsz-wing, one of the city’s top women players, said she believed the change of scenery for the annual event’s 35th edition would promote both squash and Hong Kong.
“Squash in outdoor courts is an entirely different experience for both the fans and the players,” she said. “It is appealing to squash lovers as well as passers-by.
“It’s a different test but at the same time an interesting place for the players. Hosting the event in different locations can promote various spots of the city.”
Hong Kong’s top women’s player Tomato Ho Tze-lok, who will play compatriot and Asian Games silver medallist Simmi Chan Sin-yuk in the opening round, remembered the tournament previously being held at the Hollywood Plaza in Diamond Hill.
“I would grab a notebook to ask for star players’ signatures back then,” she said. “When the tournament was held at the piazza at the Cultural Centre, it was really cold in winter but the atmosphere was unmatched.
“Over-hitting may see the ball dropped into the water, such an experience was special and could perhaps be found only in Hong Kong, I am really looking forward to this new venue.”
The 23-year-old Sarah Cheng Nga-ching took a more ambitious approach, suggesting the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island as a location for future tournaments. The city’s second-ranked Henry Leung Chi-hin picked the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom Bay as an ideal competition spot.
“I have watched enough concerts there but there’s no way I could sing on the stage, so playing there would be nice,” he said.
Altogether the tournament will feature 96 players, 48 competing in the men’s and women’s draw, including the world’s top 20 men and 18 of the 20 top-ranked women.
In the men’s competition, world No 1 Ali Farag of Egypt, the runner-up in the 2017 and 2018 editions, will look to finally claim the crown, while several women are fighting for a second title, including 2016 champion Nouran Gohar, 2017 winner Nour El Sherbini and defending champion Hania El Hammamy, all of whom are also from Egypt.
The tournament, which offers a winning purse of HK$2.96 million (US$380,000), runs from November 27 to December 3.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kwLG70a1moaeenHqsu82gZpqqpJ6wrbGObGlscWdrg3C0zqeeZqOfo7Ruv9CumKygXaS9prqMm5xmoJWhsW671K2bqKeiYrCwwdGtZKGZope8tr6MsJysrF2gvLi4zqilZpulocG2vsClZJ2ho6m%2Fqq%2FT