KCC Challenge Cup QF: Ling Downs Top Seed In Surprising Day

Quarter finals day in Kowloon turned out to be a surprising one, with Andes Ling downing top seed Wong Chi Him in one of several upsets.

Ling, the unseeded 25-year-old, got the better of Wong Him Chi, who sits more than 150 places above him in the World Rankings. He got the job done in straight games, with an incredible performance, dropping just 16 points. He won 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 in just 25 minutes to book his spot in the last four.

He will now take on another unseeded Hongkonger in Ho Ka Hei. The World No.319 got the better of No.8 seed Wee Ming Hock, downing the Malaysian in a lengthy five-game battle. He won out 13-11 in the fifth to secure his semi-final spot.

The other match in the last four will pit No.2 seed Tang Ming Hong and No.3 seed Abdullah Almezayen against each other, after both came through their respective quarter final matches in straight games.

In the women’s draw, there was just a single upset, as Malaysia’s Heng Wai Wong downed No.3 seed Ching Fei Hung in straight hames. She took an 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 victory to book her last four place, where she will now take on compatriot and top seed Aira Azman.

The other semi-final in the women’s event will see Japan’s Akari Midorikawa take on the last remaining Hongkonger in No.2 seed Cheng Nga Ching. She defeated compatriot Wong Po You Kirstie, while Midorikawa got the better of wildcard Kwong Ena.

The semi-finals of the KCC PSA Challenge Cup will take place on Thursday, January 19 at the Kowloon Cricket Club. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Quarter Final Results: KCC PSA Challenge Cup
Andes Ling (HKG) bt [1] Wong Chi Him (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (25m)
Ho Ka Hei (HKG) bt [8] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) 3-2: 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 13-15, 13-11 (67m)
[3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) bt Matthew Lai (HKG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (25m)
[2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt [7] Tomotaka Endo (JPN) 3-0: 13-11, 11-4, 11-7 (32m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, January 19
Andes Ling (HKG) v Ho Ka Hei (HKG)
[3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) v [2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: KCC PSA Challenge Cup
[1] Aira Azman (MAS) bt [8] Toby Tse (HKG) 3-2: 7-11, 11-5, 13-11, 6-11, 11-6 (38m)
Heng Wai Wong (MAS) bt [3] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (32m)
[4] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) bt [WC] Kwong Ena (HKG) 3-1: 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (36m
[2] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) bt Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) 3-1: 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 (29m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, January 19
[1] Aira Azman (MAS) v Heng Wai Wong (MAS)
[4] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) v [2] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG)