HKFC PSA Preview: Chan Sin Yuk Seeing Progress

The Hong Kong Football Club PSA takes place this week from Wednesday 16 to Saturday 19, with 32 players aiming for glory over the course of the next four days of play.

31 of the 32-strong field hail from Hong Kong, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with Singapore’s Paige Hill as the only foreign player in the draw, as players entering the event have to reside in the nation.

The men’s event will be headed by Tsz Fung Yip, who won the second of the Chairman Cup events at the Hong Kong Squash Centre earlier this year. The likes of Max Lee, Henry Leung, Tsz Kwan Lau and Chi Him Wong, also a winner this year, will be aiming for the title.

Liu Tsz-Ling, the World No.41, will be the top seed for the women’s event, with Tze Lok Ho, Tsz Wing-Tong, Lee Ka Yi and Vanessa Chu, all within 20 places in the World Rankings of Liu, also in action.

The No.6 seed will be Chan Sin Yuk, who sensationally claimed victory at the Chairman Cup 2 earlier this year, downing three of the top five seeds en route to the victory. We caught up with the 18-year-old ahead of this week’s event.

“I was happy about that [the win]. I turned full time about half a year ago. The Chairman Cup and Chairman Cup 2 were my first two tournaments since then. I can see the progress from six months ago to the Chairman Cup and to the Chairman Cup 2,” she explained.

“I worked really hard, and my coaches also always reflect on my performance and work well with me to improve my weaknesses. So I am very thankful to them for winning my first title.

“I think I performed pretty well throughout the week. I was able to put what I have been practising into my game. I managed to persist through matches after I had had some tough rallies with my opponents. I wasn’t able to keep a clear mind all the time but I am happy with how I played overall and that I came through to get the win against three of my seniors.”

Thanks to the victory, Sin Yuk jumped up to sit just outside the top 100 in the World Rankings, now at World No.114. She knows another win would likely take her past that mark, and she is confident of doing just that this week.

“I am confident with my recent training, but things change all the time in a game, and it’s never easy to get through all the top seeds and win a title. I will try my best to win this tournament for a second Tour title.”

The event takes place from Wednesday 16 to Saturday 19 June at the Hong Kong Football Club. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

Action from the event will be streamed throughout the week on the PSA Challenger Tour YouTube channel, where you can watch Challenger Tour action, and interviews with rising stars.

Men’s First Round Draw: Hong Kong Football Club PSA
[1] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v Au Lap Man (HKG)
Ho Ka Hei (HKG) v [8] Mathew Lai (HKG)
[5] Chi Him Wong (HKG) v Wailok To (HKG)
Lam Shing Fung (HKG) v [4] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG)
[3] Henry Leung (HKG) v Tang Ethan Pui Lok (HKG)
Tse Jat (HKG) v [7] Harley Lam (HKG)
[6] Tang Ming Tong (HKG) v Anson Wong (HKG)
Chung Yat Long (HKG) v [2] Max Lee (HKG)

Women’s First Round Draw: Hong Kong Football Club PSA
[1] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) v Paige Hill (SGP)
Fung Ching Hei (HKG) v [5] Vanessa Chu (HKG)
[8] Tam Mariko Cho Nga (HKG) v Wai Sze Wing (HKG)
Valerie Huang (HKG) v [3] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)
[4] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) v Alyssa Ho (HKG)
Carmen Lee (HKG) v [6] Chan Sin Yuk (HKG)
[7] Cheng Nga Chin (HKG) v Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG)
Toby Tse (HKG) v [2] Tze Lok Ho (HKG)