CHENNAI: “They are playing and I am sweating,” says Dick Leung, acting Head coach of the Hong Kong team, referring to his players who are going through their paces at the Indian Squash Academy ahead of the Jio-19th Asian individual squash championship to be held here (at Express Avenue Mall & ISA) from April 26 to 30.
The Hong Kong team, according to Leung, is mentally strong.
“Physically, too, they are good, but the humid weather conditions might play a role,” says Leung, wiping his face with a towel.
Leading the Hong Kong team in the men’s and women’s sections will be Max Lee and Annie Au respectively, who have been given the No. 1 seedings at the five-day meet.
Lee, at 29 years, is keen to break the quarterfinal barrier, for, in his previous five appearances in the Asian championship, he has not gone past the last eight stage.
“I will only think of entering the semifinals, then think of winning the title,” says the World No. 16 and owner of 11 PSA titles.
Lee feels the 23-year-old Yip Tsz Fung, his teammate, will be the player to watch out for.
“Yip has had a very good year, reaching the quarterfinals of the President’s Gold Cup and winning his first PSA tour title at the Holtrand Open in Canada,” says Max.
For Au, her target will be reaching the semifinals, first.
“The field is quite competitive. All the players in the top four are tough,” she says. “The draw has a lot of good players from India, Pakistan and Malaysia.”
Au, ranked World No. 11, opines that the Hong Kong women’s team’s performance has been on an upcurve.
In the World women’s team championship at Issy-les-Moulineaux, France in November-December last, Hong Kong finished third.
“We made history then. It was the same team of four [Au, Liu Tsz Ling, Joey Chan & Tong Tsz Wing] in France,” remembers Au, who has reached the final of the Asian meet thrice — 2011, ’13 & ’15 — won it in ’13.
In the absence of Nicol David, former World No. 1 and defending champion, Au feels the tournament has become more unpredictable.
“Anybody and everybody has a chance now. It’s more exciting,” she says.
Even though Au has won 13 PSA titles, she fondly remembers the 2014 Cleveland Classic, where she lost in the final to Nicol David.
“I came through qualifying and played six matches, beating top-ranked players Jenny Duncalf and Lausa Massaro and some higher-ranked players,” she says.
Lee and Au are pleased with their games in the last couple of years, their hard work yielding the desired results.
“Reaching the semifinal of the PSA event, the Hong Kong Open last year, was what I would call a breakthrough tournament,” feels Lee.
Au says in the last two years she has won at least one PSA title every year, which is a good sign. “I have been consistent, if not great,” she says.
