2nd Bangamata International: Hong Kong Trio Into Quarters

Hong Kong’s Lam Shing Fung, Chung Yat Long and Matthew Lai are all through to the last eight at the 2nd Bangamata International Squash Tournament presented by SA Group.     

The Challenger 5 level competition is taking place at the Chittagong Club Ltd in the Bangladeshi city of Chattogram, and the Hong Kong trio were among the eight players to advance on day two of the tournament.

No.13 seed Lam Shing Fung defeated compatriot and No.7 seed Harley Lam in one of the day’s surprise results. He lost the first game 11-5, but fought back to win both the second and third to hold the advantage. Lam then won the fourth to send the match into a decider, but it was Fung who came out on top. Ranked 89 places lower than his compatriot, the 20-year-old took the fifth 11-6 to book his place in the quarters.

Long came up against Sri Lankan No.1 and No.6 seed Ravindu Laksiri on Wednesday. He lost the first game 11-8, but fought back to win the second deep in a tie-break, 14-12. The Hongkonger carried that form into the third and fourth games, and despite being ranked 26 players lower than the Sri Lankan, Long won in four games to advance to the last eight. 

He will now face compatriot Matthew Lai in the quarters, after the No.10 seed received a walkover through to the last eight. India’s Ravi Dixit was unable to play on Wednesday afternoon, meaning Lai advances.

The other big surprise on the second day in Chattogram saw No.5 seed Sandeep Ramachandran beaten by Egypt’s Hazem Hossam. 108 places separate the pair in the world rankings, but it was the Egyptian that was in complete control throughout. He needed just 18 minutes to secure the win in straight games to make the last eight, in what is his first tournament on the Tour.

Elsewhere, the tournament’s top two seeds reached the quarters. Ibrahim Elkabbani came from a game down to beat Malaysia’s Amir Amirul, while Seif Shenawy downed Hong Kong’s Ho Ka Hei in a tough five-game battle which lasted almost an hour.

The quarter finals of the 2nd Bangamata International Squash Tournament presented by SA Group will take place on Thursday, March 9. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Second Round Results: 2nd Bangamata International Squash Tournament presented by SA Group
[1] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) bt [15] Amir Amirul (MAS) 3-1: 10-12, 11-6, 11-3, 12-10 (40m)
[9] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) bt [8] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (29m)
[16] Hazem Hossam (EGY) bt [5] Sandeep Ramachandran (IND) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 (18m)
[3] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) bt [14] Wailok To (HKG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-8, 11-5 (27m)
[10] Matthew Lai (HKG) bt Ravi Dixit (IND): Walkover
[11] Chung Yat Long (HKG) bt [6] Ravindu Laksiri (SRI) 3-1: 8-11, 14-12, 11-4, 12-10 (51m)
[13] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) bt [7] Harley Lam (HKG) 3-2: 5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6 (61m)
[2] Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt [12] Ho Ka Hei (HKG) 3-2: 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 8-11, 11-9 (57m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, March 9
[1] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) v [9] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS)
[16] Hazem Hossam (EGY) v [3] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS)
[10] Matthew Lai (HKG) v [11] Chung Yat Long (HKG)
[13] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) v [2] Seif Shenawy (EGY)