Qualifying finals:
Carmen Lee (HKG) bt Ho Ka Wing (HKG) 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 (32m)
Jemyca Aribado (PHI) bt Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6
(46m)
Li Sum Yin (HKG) bt Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8
(25m)
Tang Yan Yi (HKG) bt Ali Hemingway (WAL) 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 (44m)
Nour El Tayeb and Leo Au are the 2017 HKFC International Champions,
after contrasting final victories in front of a packed crowd at Hong
Kong Football Club.
Tayeb, the second seed, took the initiative from the outset against
fourth seeded Indian Joshna Chinappa, who was appearing in her second
consecutive HKFC final.
Tayeb raced to early leads, 7-1 in the first and 6-2 in the second,
converting them both 11-4 as Chinappa found some traction but too late.
The pattern continued in the third, and the Egyptian claimed her first
title in almost two years, taking the third 11-4 in just under half an
hour.
“I knew that Joshna had a hard match yesterday,” said Tayeb, “so I tried
to make it fast from the start and it seemed to work. Joshna’s a
fighter, she came back a little but I managed to close out each game.
“I’m delighted to win the title on my first visit here, I really enjoy
being in Hong Kong and I haven’t won four matches in a row for a long
time!”
Title joy for Nour El Tayeb
An Egyptian double looked on the cards as third seed Omar Mosaad took a
two-game lead over local favourite Leo Au. Neither game was easy, but
Mosaad, champion here in 2012, looked too strong for first-time finalist
Au.
Spurred on by the crowd, the Hong Kong man fought back well to take the
third, coming from 4-6 down to take it 11-6 with the match already over
the hour mark
Au took that momentum into the fourth, working his way to a 10-7 lead.
Mosaad saved all three game balls, two with crisp winners, and had three
match balls of his own at 11-10, 12-11 and 13-12, all of which Leo saved
with positive attacks.
Two errors from Mosaad – probably more than Au had made in the whole
match to date – and the match moved into a decider.
Au was always just ahead in a tense fifth, completing the comeback at
the first attemps as Mosaad hit the ball back to the centre of the court
for an obvious stroke.
Leo Au roars with delight after his victory
“When I was 2-0 down I didn't really think about anything, I just told
myself to do my best and keep the rallies going. At 10-7 in the fourth
he played some good shots, then I did the same to save those match balls
– it was very tense, I was so happy to win it on my first match ball in
the fifth!
“I've played Omar a few times and that's the first time I've beaten him,
and like I said yesterday I haven't done well in this tournament before
so to win it in my first final feels great.”
Joshna Chinappa ended hopes of a dream title winning double for siblings
Leo and Annie Au at the 2017 HKFC International at the Hong Kong
Football Club, defeating top seeded Annie in a semi-final upset.
Chinappa twice saw game leads eroded as Au fought back to keep her
tournament alive – and it was the home favourite who opened up an early
lead in the fifth. But a series of errors from the racket of Au allowed
Chinappa back into it and the Indian number one grasped the opportunity,
pushing through to take a tense fifth game 11-9.
“That was such a tough match, it was very close from start to finish,”
said Chinappa.
“I had chances in the second but she put the ball away well. It's always
tough to play Annie in HK, and very hard to beat her, so I'm maybe a bit
lucky but very happy to be in the final.”
Chinappa will now face Egyptian Nour El Tayeb in the title-decider after
she overcame Welsh talent Tesni Evans 3-1.
Leo Au meanwhile kept up his hopes of winning the title with victory
over higher seeded Omar Abdel Meguid – prevailing 3-1 to set up a tough
finale against former World No.4 Omar Mosaad.
Au was quickly into his stride against Meguid, keeping ahead in the
first and then racing through the second as the Egyptian gave up on the
final few points.
To his credit Meguid battled back to take the third, only for Au to take
control from the start of the fourth to reach his first HKFC final.
“That was a tough match from start to finish,” said Au.
“It would have been nice if we could both had made the final, but Annie
has already won this event and it will be my first final so I'm really
looking forward to it.”
