Challenger Tour Roundup: El Torkey Continues Rotterdam Run Whilst Play Commences In Hong Kong

The quarter finalists of the Rotterdam Open 2024 have been confirmed at Victoria Squash Club as eight players scored round two wins yesterday.

Egypt’s Omar El Torkey continued his fantastic run in Rotterdam as he needed less than half an hour to defeat Paraguay’s Francesco Marcantonio in four games. After losing the opener, El Torkey started to find his rhythm going short and started to pick off the South American from there to book a place in the quarters from an unseeded position.

Germany’s Valenin Rapp scored an entertaining upset over Nigeria’s Adegoke Onaopemipo to reach the last eight. The German found himself 2-1 down in what was a scrappy, decision rich contest but managed to come through strongly in games four and five, winning 11-6, 11-8 to advance.

The only other upset of the round came from returning Colombian Ronal Palomino. The Colombian was up against No.7 seeded Hong Kong player Ka Hei Ho and after a competitive opening game, which Palomino won 15-13, he stormed to victory in the following games winning 11-5, 11-3. He now faces top seed James Peach who defeated Ammar Altamimi in straight games.

Results: Round Two
[1] James Peach (ENG) bt Ammar Altamimi (KUW) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (33m)
[9/16] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [7] Ka Hei Ho (HKG) 3-0: 13-11, 11-5, 11-3 (34m)
[9/16] Valentin Rapp (GER) bt [8] Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) 3-2: 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8 (82m)
Omar El Torkey (EGY) bt [4] Francesco Marcantonio (PAR) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (29m)
[3] Robin Gadola (SUI) bt [WC] Rene Mijs (NED) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (27m)
[5] Leo Chung (HKG) bt [9/16] Jose Gallegos (CHI) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (30m)
[6] Joeri Hapers (BEL) bt [9/16] Joshua Phinera (FRA) 3-1: 11-9, 11-3, 7-11, 11-5 (58m)
[2] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt [9/16] Manuel Paquemar (FRA) 3-1: 11-7, 11-1, 7-11, 11-2 (46m)

Draw: Quarter Finals
[1] James Peach (ENG) v [9/16] Ronald Palomino (COL)
Omar El Torkey (EGY) v [9/16] Valentin Rapp (GER)
[3] Robin Gadola (SUI) v [5] Leo Chung (HKG)
[2] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) v [6] Joeri Hapers (BEL)

Play got underway yesterday at the Hong Kong Squash PSA Challenge Cup 2024- 3rd Leg as 16 matches took place at the The Hong Kong Cricket Club.

All of the top seeds prevailed in the men’s event with only three matches going to four games. Whereas in the women’s event, three upsets took place to set up an exciting quarter final lineup.

Helen Tang showed her class in her match with No.5 seed Wing Hei Jannis Lam as she needed just 17 minutes to secure the win, surrendering just nine points throughout the entire match. Another Hong Kong upset came from Pik Ching Cheng, who came through a five set clash with Macau’s Liu Kwai Chi.

The Philippines’ Jemyca Aribado compeletes the upset trio, after her win over Hong Kong’s Mariko Tam. The score was tied at 1-1 before Aribado moved through the gears in the last two games to close it out 3-1 and book a place in the last eight.

Results: Men’s Round One
[1] Andes Ling (HKG) bt Ting To Brogan Cheng (HKG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-1, 11-4 (21m)
[8] Rain Wong (HKG) bt Michael Man (HKG) 3-1: 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9 (43m)
[7] Lap Man Au (HKG) bt Tsun Hei Mak (HKG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-8 (20m)
[3] Wailok To (HKG) bt Chiu Ho Fai (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (22m)
[4] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) bt Wong Sze Yu (HKG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (16m)
[5] Wilson Chan (HKG) bt Lau Si Chun (HKG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-5 (30m)
[6] Anson Wong (HKG) bt Law Pak Ho (HKG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (31m)
[2] Harley Lam (HKG) bt Long Hin Larry Wong (HKG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)

Results: Women’s Round One
[1] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) bt Carmen Lee (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 (22m)
Helen Tang (HKG) bt [5] Wing Hei Jannis Lam (HKG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-4 (17m)
Jemyca Aribado (PHI) bt [7] Mariko Tam (HKG) 3-1: 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7 (44m)
[3] Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) bt Cheung Tsz Ching Armona (HKG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (23m)
[4] Kwong Ena (HKG) bt Lau Wai Tung (HKG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-2 (15m)
[8] Bobo Lam (HKG) bt Ipsa Mishra (HKG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (14m)
Pik Ching Cheng (HKG) bt [6] Liu Kwai Chi (MAC) 3-2: 8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (26m)
[2] Toby Tse (HKG) bt Elaine Chung (HKG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (21m)

Draw: Men’s Round Two
[1] Andes Ling (HKG) v [8] Rain Wong (HKG)
[3] Wailok To (HKG) v [7] Lap Man Au (HKG)
[4] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) v [5] Wilson Chan (HKG)
[2] Harley Lam (HKG) v [6] Anson Wong (HKG)

Draw: Women’s Round Two
[1] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) v Helen Tang (HKG)
[3] Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) v Jemyca Aribado (PHI)
[4] Kwong Ena (HKG) v [8] Bobo Lam (HKG)
[2] Toby Tse (HKG) v Pik Ching Cheng (HKG)