Hong Kong Squash Open: Nour El Sherbini, Diego Elias lead stars to play here in December
Hong Kong’s top players will get rare chance to play against the world’s best, with World Team Championships also being held that fortnight
Hong Kong squash players are relishing the chance of taking on the world’s best when the sport’s professional circuit rolls into town in December, and will get the chance to prove their mettle twice in a fortnight.
The Hong Kong Squash Open returns from December 2 to 8, and the city will then host the World Team Championships the following week. Among the stellar cast coming to town are women’s world No 1 Nour El Sherbini and men’s world champion Diego Elias.
With the opening rounds taking place at the city’s Squash Centre and knockout stages taking place on a specially constructed venue at Edinburgh Place in front of City Hall, fans will get to see up close the game’s elite, as well as the best Hong Kong has to offer.
“It’s rare for us to play a world top 10 player as they are usually seeded and we don’t face them unless we win one or two matches,” said Hong Kong’s world No 48 player Henry Leung Chi-hin. “But at the Hong Kong Open, all players are required to play in the opening round so there’s a good chance for us to play against them.”
Alex Lau Tsz-kwan, ranked No 49, said there was always pressure to play in the city, with local players wanting to “repay the support” from the home fans.
One of six platinum events on the Professional Squash Association season calendar, the Hong Kong Open, which offers total prize money of HK$3.24 million (US$415,000), will feature 32 players in both men’s and women’s draws.
