Hong Kong, China, enjoyed a perfect day on the home court of Hong Kong Football Club as their women’s and men’s teams reached the knockout stages of the 2024 WSF World Squash Team Championships, the first edition of the event to feature both competitions simultaneously.
The women’s team showed off their impressive strength in depth by opting to rest their No.1 and Hong Kong Football Club’s own Tomato Ho, with Sin Yuk Chan promoted to first string as she, Ka Yi Lee and Tsz-Wing Tong earned victory over South Africa, with Chan coming back from 2-1 down to defeat Hayley Ward to ensure that the hosts ended the pools stage without a match dropped and winning 27 of the 32 games played.
The hosts will play Scotland in the next round after Scotland finished second in Pool B.
The men’s team, meanwhile, fired back after a defeat to Pakistan yesterday by beating tournament debutants Peru, who are led by former World No.1 and reigning individual world champion Diego Elias.
Elias won his match against the hosts’ first string Alex Lau, but Henry Leung and Ming Hong Tang were able to get the wins needed over Rafael Galvez and Alonso Escuder to secure their spot in the last 16, with Leung recovering from a nervy start to record a 3-1 win and Tang looking controlled in a straight-games victory.
Hong Kong, China will face USA in the next round after USA crushed China without dropping a game to top Pool G.
Afterwards, team manager and coach Peter Genever said: “The women were all really convincing. I think [the team’s balance is a real strength].
👀 Could there be an upset on the cards?
🇯🇵 Japan's Tomo Endo has taken the first game in his match against 🇪🇬 World No.1 Ali Farag
📺 Watch free on https://t.co/4yHWM4EB1s#WSFteams pic.twitter.com/LbfNVD438U
— World Squash (WSF) (@WorldSquash) December 10, 2024
“They’re all experienced on the PSA Squash Tour and have been playing for a number of years and are experienced as a group. All four get on well and it’s nice to have that team spirit and that’s really strong with them. I think they’re a really good group and are looking forward to the knockout stages.”
On the worries of exiting in the Pools Stage in the men’s event, he said: “Everyone’s always looking for a story, all the other teams aren’t they! It’s added pressure there but the guys responded really well today. Henry Leung played late last night and was first on today and he came back really well, and then Tang winning in three looked good.
“Now, let’s recover well and get in shape for the next one!”
Elsewhere, defending champions in both events Egypt overcame spirited challenges from Japan in the men’s and women’s events on the all-glass court to eventually record 3-0 wins, with the women’s team also beating Spain on the traditional court later in the day.
Both No.1s Nour El Sherbini and Ali Farag found it difficult initially, with El Sherbini falling a game down to Satomi Watanabe before eventually triumphing 6-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8, while Farag recovered from losing his first game against Tomotaka Endo to win.
World Teams results here