Challenger Tour Weekly Preview: Trio Of Events To Kickstart 2024 Calendar Year

The Challenger Tour returns to action for the first time in the 2024 calendar year, with three events taking place across three different countries this week.

The schedule includes a pair of 6k tournaments in Hong Kong and Canada, as well as a 3k event in India.

Hong Kong Squash PSA Challenger Cup – 1st Leg

The 6k Hong Kong Squash PSA Challenger Cup 1st Leg is set to see a whole host of Hong Kong talent take to the court in a bid for silverware this week.

In the women’s draw, Cheng Nga Ching Sara, who is currently at a career-high ranking of World No.61, has been drawn as the No.1 seed. The 23-year-old has thrived when playing in front of a home crowd in recent times, capturing the 6k HK Challenge Cup last September and subsequently reaching the second round of a Bronze-level PSA World Tour event for the first time at the Hong Kong Football Club Open.

The top five seeds in the men’s event are all from Hong Kong, with Tang Ming Hong topping the draw and Matthew Lai and Wong Chi Him named as the No.2 and No.3 seeds, respectively. Tang was impressive in defeat in his last outing on the PSA Tour, claiming a game off Germany’s Raphael Kandra when selected as a Wildcard at the Platinum-level Hong Kong Squash Open.

Action from the Hong Kong Squash Centre will get underway on Tuesday 16th January, with the finals being played on the 20th January.

Lethbridge ProAm 2024

Elsewhere, Canada will host the second 6k event of the week, with 24 men’s players battling it out for the Lethbridge ProAm 2024 title.

The top four seeds for the event are all from different countries, with France’s Brice Nicolas the top seed, Egyptian teenager Kareem El Torkey the No.2 seed, and Canada’s Liam Marrison and Switzerland’s Robin Gadola the No.3 and No.4 seeds, respectively.

El Torkey is certainly a name to watch out for after his impressive start to the 2023/24 season. The 19-year-old has already captured two titles from the five events he has competed in this campaign, with his most recent success coming at the SODIC Open in December.

Meanwhile, Marrison will be joined by a strong contingent of Canadian players, with Jayden Shortt, Maximilien Godbout, Tyson Schille, Isaiah Richter and Noman Khan all looking to impress at their home event.

The event will be hosted at Lethbridge College and take place between 17-21 January.

JSW Willingdon Little Masters & Senior Tournament 2024

Action at the JSW Willingdon Little Masters & Senior Tournament got underway at the weekend in Mumbai, with 23 men and 15 women partaking in the 3k event.

In the men’s draw, India’s Abhay Singh tops the bill as No.1 seed and has already progressed to the quarter-finals, with compatriots Suraj Kumar Chand and Kanhav Nanavati some of the other notable names to have booked their spots in the last eight. Singh, who claimed a Bronze medal with fellow No.1 seed Anahat Singh in the mixed-doubles at the Asian Games last year, is on the lookout for his first title of the season, and an eighth of his PSA Tour career.

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, 15-year-old Singh has been drawn as the No.1 seed and will open her account against Dewmini Gallage today. The teenage star, who is the current Indian National Champion, is competing in her third-ever Challenger Tour event, but will be charting unfamiliar territory as top seed and title favourite for the very first time.

Stay tuned across the PSA Challenger Tour social channels and PSA website for updates.