Greater Bendigo SF: Unseeded Heo Through To Final

The surprises keep on coming in Victoria, with the unseeded Mingyeong Heo downing the tournament’s No.3 seed to move into the women’s final, while Bryan Lim Tze Kang also caused a surprise to make the men’s final at the Bendigo Squash Centre.

Heo came into the last four of the Challenger 3 having already defeated Sarah Cardwell, the top seed for the competition, in the quarter finals. In the semis, the South Korean took on No.3 seed Wai Sze Wing, and the pair went the distance to decide who would make it through to the final.

The Korean took the first two games quite comfortably, dropping just twelve points across the pair, but she then saw Wing take the third game on a tie-break, before going on to win the fourth as well to send the match into a deciding game. Heo would take it 11-7, regrouping after losing those two games, to advance to the first final of her career.

She will face Japan’s Akari Midorikawa in the final on Sunday afternoon, after the tournament’s No.2 seed defeated Hong Kong’s No.8 seed Lam Po Ying in a four game battle. The Japanese No.2 lost the opening game on a tie-break 13-11, but fought back to win the next three to advance to the final in Bendigo.

The men’s final will see Malaysia’s Bryan Lim Tze Kang aim to take his third victory in twelve months, as he takes on top seed Joseph White. The Malaysian downed No.2 seed Rhys Dowling in his semi-final to make it through, while White got the better of Hong Kong’s Andes Ling.

The finals of the City of Greater Bendigo International will take place on Sunday, July 2 at the Bendigo Squash Centre, with Mingyeong Heo and Akari Midorikawa doing battle in the women’s match, before Joseph White and Bryan Lim Tze Kang go head-to-head in the men’s final.

Men’s Semi-Final Results: City of Greater Bendigo International
[1] Joseph White (AUS) bt Andes Ling (HKG) 3-1: 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 12-10 (60m)
[3] Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS) bt [2] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (30m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, July 3
[1] Joseph White (AUS) v [3] Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: City of Greater Bendigo International
Mingyeong Heo (HKG) bt [3] Wai Sze Wing (HKG) 3-2: 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-7 (41m)
[2] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) bt [8] Lam Po Ying (HKG) 3-1: 11-13, 11-8, 11-2, 12-10 (32m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, July 3
Mingyeong Heo (HKG) v [2] Akari Midorikawa (JPN)