KCC Challenge Cup SF: Hong Kong Representation In Both Finals

The finals of the KCC PSA Challenge Cup are set, and host nation Hong Kong will be represented in the finals of both draws.

In the men’s event, the unseeded Andes Ling is through to the final. The 25-year-old got the better of top seed Wong Chi Him in the quarter finals, and he downed fellow Hongkonger Ho Ka Hei in the last four to book his spot in the final on Friday evening.

Ling had won their one previous match-up back in the summer of 2022, and he started the stronger of the two in this contest as well. He won the opening two games comfortably, but there was a fightback from Hei in the third, with the World No.319 winning it 14-12. However, Ling took the fourth 11-8 to book his place in a first Tour final.

He will take on Kuwait’s Abdullah Almezayen in the final on Friday, after the former World No.34 got the better of Tang Ming Hong, also in four games. The pair were level after two, but the Kuwaiti was then able to pull away and win the next couple of games to advance.

The Hong Kong representative in the women’s event will be No.2 seed Cheng Nga Ching. She is through to the final after defeating Japanese No.2 Akari Midorikawa in a comfortable straight games win. The World No.82 won the first 11-7 before then only dropping four points in each of the next two games to book her spot in the final.

She will face World No.69, and the tournament’s top seed, Aira Azman, in the final on Friday. Azman downed compatriot Heng Wai Wong in straight games to move through to fourth career final, and she will aim to win a second Tour title tomorrow.

You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Semi-Final Results: KCC PSA Challenge Cup
Andes Ling (HKG) bt Ho Ka Hei (HKG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-4, 12-14, 11-8 (48m)
[3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) bt [2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) 3-1: 11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9 (38m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, January 20
Andes Ling (HKG) v [3] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: KCC PSA Challenge Cup
[1] Aira Azman (MAS) bt Heng Wai Wong (MAS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (22m)
[2] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) bt [4] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, January 20
[1] Aira Azman (MAS) v [2] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG)