KCC Challenge Cup RD2: Wildcard Ena Continues Dream Debut

The surprises kept coming at the KCC PSA Challenge Cup in Hong Kong, with wildcard Kwong Ena securing an upset for the second straight day.

15-year-old Ena is making her debut on the PSA Tour this week, and she got the better of compatriot Lam Po Ying in the opening round, coming from two games down to take a five-game victory. That did not seem to affect her at all, as she came through another five-gamer on day two in Kowloon.

After downing Ying in the first round, Ena’s reared was a tie with No.7 seed Salma El Aify, who sits more than 200 places above her in the World Rankings. It was the Egyptian that took the lead on two occasions, but both times, Ena fought back, and she saved herself in the fourth, winning it on a tie-break 12-10. The Hongkonger continued that momentum into the deciding fifth game, and she clinched it 11-9 to secure another incredible win. She will now take on No.4 seed Akari Midorikawa, the Japanese No.2, in the quarter finals on Wednesday.

Heng Wai Wong also got the better of Egyptian opposition in Tuesday afternoon in Kowloon. The Hongkonger overcame No.6 seed Nour Ramy in four games, regrouping after dropping the second game 11-5. Wong Po You Kirstie also secured a surprise win, downing Malaysia’s No.5 seed Ooi Kah Yan in straight games.

There were also three surprise victors on the second day in the men’s event, with three home hopes getting the better of seeded opposition to make it through to the quarter finals in Kowloon.

Ho Ka Hei, the World No.319, took on the tournament’s No.4 seed, Egypt’s Abdelaziz Hegazy. It was a comfortable win for the Hongkonger in the end, as he ran out the winner in straight games, with 11-7, 11-5, and 11-8 scorelines.

Elsewhere, Matthew Lai defeated No.5 seed Chung Yat Long and Andes Ling got the better of No.6 seed Harley Lam, both in all-Hong Kong affairs. The pair both won in three to advance to the quarter finals of the Challenger 10 level competition.

The quarter finals of the KCC PSA Challenge Cup will take place on Wednesday, January 18 at the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Second Round Results: KCC PSA Challenge Cup
[1] Wong Chi Him (HKG) bt Jaejin Yoo (KOR) 3-2: 8-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 (42m)
Andes Ling (HKG) bt [6] Harley Lam (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)
[8] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) bt Rahul Baitha (IND) 3-2: 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (53m)
Ho Ka Hei (HKG) bt [4] Abdelaziz Hegazy (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (32m)
[3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) bt Naoki Hayashi (JPN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (17m)
Matthew Lai (HKG) bt [5] Chung Yat Long (HKG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 (30m)
[7] Tomotaka Endo (JPN) bt Lam Shing Fung (HKG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (24m)
[2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt Wailok To (HKG) 3-1: 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6 (32m)

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, January 18
[1] Wong Chi Him (HKG) v Andes Ling (HKG) 
[8] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) v Ho Ka Hei (HKG)
[3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) v Matthew Lai (HKG)
[7] Tomotaka Endo (JPN) v [2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG)

Women’s Second Round Results: KCC PSA Challenge Cup
[1] Aira Azman (MAS) bt Dong ju Song (KOR) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 11-6 (18m)
[8] Toby Tse (KHG) bt Yura Choe (KOR) 3-1: 11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-1 (28m)
Heng Wai Wong (MAS) bt [6] Nour Ramy (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8 (39m)
[3] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) bt [WC] Leung Ka Huen (HKG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 11-6 (23m)
[4] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) bt [WC] Chueng Tsz Ching (HKG) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6 (30m)
[WC] Kwong Ena (HKG) bt [7] Salma El Aify (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9 (49m)
Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) bt [5] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (21m)
[2] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) bt Wai Sze Wing (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (24m)

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, January 18
[1] Aira Azman (MAS) v [8] Toby Tse (KHG)
Heng Wai Wong (MAS) v [3] Ching Hei Fung (HKG)
[4] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) v [WC] Kwong Ena (HKG)
Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG) v [2] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG)