Sports lessons from Hong Kong squash: build a strong base, and excellence will follow

Tony Kwok says the experience of local squash shows that sporting success at the highest level really rests on active community involvement and a good feeder system

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Max Lee acknowledges fans’ support, after beating Egypt’s Fares Dessouky in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Squash Open. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 12:36pm, 31 Aug 2016Updated: 6:16pm, 31 Aug 2016

The visit by the nation’s Olympic champions to Hong Kong over the weekend was a tremendous success. However, the wide media coverage dwarfed one significant local sports achievement. In the Hong Kong Squash Open held at the weekend and attended by all the top players in the world, Hong Kong’s Max Lee Ho-yin made it into the semi-finals. If squash was an Olympic sport, Lee could have secured a bronze medal. His success should be seen as a testament to Hong Kong’s successful sports development.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s recent announcement that the government will conduct a review of its sports policy, taking into consideration the UK’s successful experience, could be an important milestone for us. The government does not lack funds. Hence, if there is a will, there is certainly a promising way ahead.

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Perhaps some lessons can be drawn from the development of local squash, which takes pride in never importing players and which, through an elaborate feeder system, has succeeded in turning out many world-class players, such as former Asian Games gold medallist Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin; Annie Au Wing-chi, a world top 10 player; 2015 Asian champion Leo Au Chun-ming; Joey Chan Ho-ling; and of course Max Lee.

The development system starts with the promotion of mini squash in primary schools. Many young talents, including some of the current elite players, were identified at this stage. Next, the talented players are offered training at the 30 community clubs across the city, with some progressing to the 20 district training centres. The more promising players will then advance to the regional training centres, of which there are six, and some are picked for professional training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

Squash is played in schools. Having an elaborate feeder system has helped Hong Kong produce a stream of elite players over the years. Photo: Edward Wong

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The critical success factor of this feeder system is that it is based on integrity, openness and fairness. No player can go through the back door to jump any stage.