Hong Kong's Chi Him Wong produced a superb performance that belied his
World Ranking to shock compatriot Tsz Fung Yip and lift the Contrex
Challenge Cup, PSA M5 title – the first of his career.
The World No.178 had stunned top seed Mahesh Mangaonkar to secure his
final berth while Fung Yip overcame surprise package Chang Wook Woo in a
straight-games triumph in the semi-final.
Him Wong took the opening two games in comfortable fashion, moving his
opponent around the court to great effect and dominating the tee.
Fung Yip mounted something of a revival in the third but it was Him Wong
who would go on to edge out a tight fourth game to earn a 11-6, 11-8,
5-11, 11-9 triumph and bring an end to a tournament full of dramatic
twists and turns.
“I am so touched and glad that I could win my first ever title that I
have been looking forward to ever since I was a junior,” said Him Wong.
“I am very pleased that I could keep the pace up and match the standard
of yesterday's match [against Mangaonkar].”
Chi
Him Wong Downs Top Seed In Challenge Cup Semi-Final
#PSAWorldTour
Third seed Chi Him Wong caused one of the upsets of the tournament after
he bested top seed Mahesh Mangaonkar in the semi-final of the Contrex
Challenge Cup, M5 tournament to set up a final clash with Tsz Fung Yip.
Him Wong bridged the 129 places between the pair in the World Rankings
with a sumptuous display and sailed through the opening two games.
Mangaonkar showed something of a revival in the third but Him Wong
pressed on to a landmark victory for the 21-year-old who is now set to
appear in the first PSA World Tour final of his burgeoning career.
“I can’t believe that I have defeated the higher seeded player,” said an
exuberant Him Wong.
“I am very pleased with my performance today. I was able to see through
his game plan and execute mine well but I really didn’t expect to win
today.”
He will meet Tsz Fung Yip in the showpiece event after he blitzed past
Chang Wook Woo to eliminate the last qualifier left standing.
The number two seed dominated proceedings at the Kowloon Cricket Club
and sailed to a straight-games victory to ensure that he will
participate in second PSA World Tour final and his fifth of 2015.
Challenge Cup Set To Excite In Hong
Kong
#PSAWorldTour
The main draws of the 2015 Contrex Challenge Cup, PSA M5 & W5 events
begin tomorrow as the courts at the Kowloon Cricket Club see some
sparkling fixtures take place.
Indian No.2 Mahesh Mangaonkar is the top seed for the Men's event and is
on the march for his fifth PSA World Tour title.
The 21-year-old last claimed a title at the JSW PSA Indian Circuit 2 in
October 2014 and will be hoping that his experience of winning a bigger
event will stand him in good stead for the challenges that lie ahead.
Mumbai-born Mangaonkar has not made it past the first round of the main
draw at an event since the Qatar PSA World Squash Championship eight
months ago but will fancy his chances to do that this time around as he
meets Chan Wui Ki in round one.
Tsz Fung Yip will be aiming to continue his superb performances thus far
in 2015 as he looks to capture yet another title. The Malaysian won
three consecutive PSA World Tour titles on the Malaysian Tour at the
start of the year and narrowly missed out on the Invercargill Licensing
Trust NZ Southern Open earlier this month, throwing away a two-game
advantage in the final to lose out against Raphael Kandra.
The 21-year-old old from Hong Kong will be up against compatriot Tsn Hei
Yuen as the duo do battle for a place in the quarter-final.
Chi Him Wong is seeded third and will be aiming to impress on home-soil.
The World No.181 is yet to win a PSA World Tour title but a series of
semi-final finishes earlier this year proved that he is a force to be
reckoned with if he is on form.
Jaejin Yoo lies in wait for Wong in the opening round with a
quarter-final spot up for grabs.
Latasha Khan will be one of the forerunners for the Women's event if she
can recapture some of the form she showed earlier on in the year.
She was unlucky to meet defeat in the quarter-final of the Malaysian
Tour Squash III in May and the United States player has a bye to the
next round where she will face either Choi Uen Shan or Liu Kwai Chi.
Vanessa Chu will pose strong opposition to Khan as she aims to lift her
third PSA World Tour title in a row.
The Hong Kong-born player eliminated Khan from the Malaysian Tour Squash
III on her way to the title and will face-off against Cheng Nga Ching in
round one as she looks to get off to a winning start.
