Challenge Cup Set to Excite in Hong Kong

#PSAWorldTour

The main draws of the 2015 Contrex Challenge Cup, PSA M5 & W5 events begin tomorrow as the courts at the Kowloon Cricket Club see some sparkling fixtures take place.

Indian No.2 Mahesh Mangaonkar is the top seed for the Men’s event and is on the march for his fifth PSA World Tour title.

The 21-year-old last claimed a title at the JSW PSA Indian Circuit 2 in October 2014 and will be hoping that his experience of winning a bigger event will stand him in good stead for the challenges that lie ahead.

Mumbai-born Mangaonkar has not made it past the first round of the main draw at an event since the Qatar PSA World Squash Championship eight months ago but will fancy his chances to do that this time around as he meets Chan Wui Ki in round one.

Tsz Fung Yip will be aiming to continue his superb performances thus far in 2015 as he looks to capture yet another title. The Malaysian won three consecutive PSA World Tour titles on the Malaysian Tour at the start of the year and narrowly missed out on the Invercargill Licensing Trust NZ Southern Open earlier this month, throwing away a two-game advantage in the final to lose out against Raphael Kandra.

The 21-year-old old from Hong Kong will be up against compatriot Tsn Hei Yuen as the duo do battle for a place in the quarter-final.

Chi Him Wong is seeded third and will be aiming to impress on home-soil. The World No.181 is yet to win a PSA World Tour title but a series of semi-final finishes earlier this year proved that he is a force to be reckoned with if he is on form.

Jaejin Yoo lies in wait for Wong in the opening round with a quarter-final spot up for grabs.

Latasha Khan will be one of the forerunners for the Women’s event if she can recapture some of the form she showed earlier on in the year.

She was unlucky to meet defeat in the quarter-final of the Malaysian Tour Squash III in May and the United States player has a bye to the next round where she will face either Choi Uen Shan or Liu Kwai Chi.

Vanessa Chu will pose strong opposition to Khan as she aims to lift her third PSA World Tour title in a row.

The Hong Kong-born player eliminated Khan from the Malaysian Tour Squash III on her way to the title and will face-off against Cheng Nga Ching in round one as she looks to get off to a winning start.

Main Draw: PSA M5, Contrex Challenge Cup, Hong Kong
[1] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) v [Q] Chan Wui Ki (HKG)
[WC] Henry Leung (HKG) v [5] David Clegg (AUS)
[6] Ko Youngjo (KOR) v [Q] Daehoon Jeong (KOR)
Jaejin Yoo (KOR) v [3] Chi Him Wong (HKG)
[4] Steven Liu (HKG) v [Q] Chang Wook Woo (KOR)
[Q] Chris Lo (HKG) v [7] Basem Makram (EGY)
[8] Tsz Hei Ma (HKG) v Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG)
Tsun Hei Yuen (HKG) v [2] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG)

Main Draw: PSA W5, Contrex Challenge Cup, Hong Kong
[1] Latasha Khan (USA) (bye.)
[Q] Choi Uen Shan (HKG) v [7] Liu Kwai Chi (MAC)
[6] Carmen Lee (HKG) v [Q] Ho Ka Po (HKG)
Hwayeong Eum (KOR) v [4] Lee Ka Yi (HKG)
[3] Tong Tszi-Wing (HKG) v Yuro Choi (KOR)
[Q] Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) v [5] Jessica Turnbull (AUS)
[8] Amina Yousry (EGY) v Min Ju Park (KOR)
[Q] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) v [2] Vanessa Chu (HKG)