Squash players dress up to raise money for Hong Kong’s Operation Santa Claus

The 26th edition of Wing Ding Charity tournament raises more than HK$339,000 for Operation Santa Claus

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The 26th edition of Wing Ding Charity tournament raised over HK$339,000 for Operation Santa Claus. Photo: Bharat Khemlani

Jay Ganglani

Published: 10:26am, 3 Dec 2024Updated: 1:05pm, 5 Dec 2024

Dressed as Cookie Monster, Barbie’s Ken and tomato ketchup, squash players battled it out for a good cause.

Brought together by their love for the sport and helping others, the 26th edition of the Wing Ding Charity tournament raised more than HK$339,000 (US$43,560) for Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual fundraising campaign organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK to help local charities.

Last year, the event raised more than HK$450,000.

“What we’re really keen on is trying to stretch this into the wider squash community and the idea of everyone giving something back,” said Stephen Gollop, chairman of the Hong Kong Football Club’s squash section charity subcommittee, which organised the event.

The tournament was named after Yuen Kam-wing, a physically impaired and much-loved member of the Hong Kong Squash Centre who died in 1998.

The “Ding” was added because it sounds similar to din, a squash term that refers to the area below the lowest red line on the front wall.

“He had this big smiling face and was always so happy to help people,” Heather Deayton said.