Shepparton International QF: Hong Kong Quintet Among Semi-Finalists

The semi-finals of the City of Greater Shepparton International will be dominated by Hong Kong, with five of the eight spots occupied by players from the Asian nation, including with a trio of men who caused upsets on the second day of competition in Australia.

Andes Ling came into the Challenger 3 level tournament as one of the unseeded players, but he is through to the semi-finals after taking out No.5 seed Navaneeth Prabhu. He needed less than half an hour to defeat the Indian, allowing him to score just twelve points across three games. He will now face the men’s top seed, Malaysia’s Hafiz Zhafri, in the semi-finals.

The other men’s semi-final will be an all-Hong Kong clash, between two surprise winners on the second day. No.8 seed Lam Shing Fung and No.6 seed Ho Ka Hei both won their respective quarter final contests against No.2 seed Shady El Sherbiny and No.3 seed Laouenan Loaec in four games to advance to the semis.

In the women’s event, the top four seeds all made it through to the last four of the competition, but it was not plain sailing for home favourite and top seed Sarah Cardwell. She had to go the distance to beat Malaysia’s Yasshmita Jadishkumar in her quarter final, coming from 2-1 down to win 3-2 on home soil.

Cardwell will now face one of two Hongkongers into the women’s semis, in No.4 seed Wai Sze Wing, who got the better of wildcard Jennifer Condie. No.3 seed Toby Tse also made her way into the last four, and she will face Japan’s No.2 seed Akari Midorikawa, the youngest winner on Tour this season.

The semi-finals of the City of Greater Shepparton International will take place on Saturday, July 9, with the last four in each draw going head-to-head for places in Sunday’s finals at the Shepparton Squash Centre in Victoria, Australia.

*Men’s Quarter Final Results: City of Greater Shepparton International*
[8] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) bt [2] Shady El Sherbiny (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8 (35m)
[6] Ho Ka Hei (HKG) bt [3] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) 3-1: 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 (39m)
Andes Ling (HKG) bt [5] Navaneeth Prabhu (IND) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 (29m)
[1] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) bt Aaron Liang (SGP) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 (26m)

*Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, July 9*
[8] Lam Shing Fung (HKG) v [6] Ho Ka Hei (HKG)
Andes Ling (HKG) v [1] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS)

*Women’s Quarter Final Results: City of Greater Shepparton International*
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [6] Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS) 3-2: 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6 (38m)
[4] Wai Sze Wing (HKG) bt [WC] Jennifer Condie (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (19m)
[3] Toby Tse (HKG) bt Mingyeong Heo (KOR) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (21m)
[2] Akari Midorikawa (JPN) bt Ellie Jones (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (19m)

*Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, July 9*
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) v [4] Wai Sze Wing (HKG)
[3] Toby Tse (HKG) v [2] Akari Midorikawa (JPN)