Preview

• Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open • 17-23 Nov 2008 • 

 
Home
Today
Draws
Info
Blog
En Francais
Players
Gallery
En Bref
History


2008: TODAY ] SEMIS ] QUARTERS ] Round TWO ] Round ONE ] Day TWO ] Day ONE ] [ Preview ]
13-Nov:
Men's preview from Malcolm


Invariably the draws in the major events are the significant factor for those players who harbour thoughts of winning. After Manchester and Doha, Hong Kong is intriguing to say the least.

Amr Shabana, convincingly beaten by Karim Darwish in the Qatar final, but looking in control midway through the fourth against Ramy Ashour in the Worlds before losing in the semi-final, will feel, as undisputed no.1, in need of a win.

Perversely Darwish is in his quarter and Ashour in his half, so to win he may have to get past both, something he may or may not relish.

Darwish's confidence will be high, that's for sure, but Peter Barker is not the kindest second round draw and there are some physical heavyweights in Ashour's quarter, including Thierry Lincou who beat him in Doha.

The bottom half has the prospect of a heavy second round match between resurgent Nick Matthew and Wael el Hindi, whilst James Willstrop's troublesome ankle has made life difficult for him.

Nor have things been easy for Gregory Gaultier with a last 16 loss to Adrian Grant in Manchester and a 3-2 quarter final loss to Darwish in Doha, though that looks good enough form in view of the Egyptian's win.

David Palmer continues to hold his form and if Matthew survives El Hindi - they will, I am sure recall their bloody battle in the World Championships in Egypt 2006 - then that pair seem to have less to deal with than other main players in the bottom half.

First round matches to catch the eye are Laurens Anjema v Borja Golan, and Cameron Pilley v El Hindi - although the Australian seems to be less consistent these days. Darwish v Barker is certainly the pick of the last 16, though once the line-up is settled there will be others.

The projected last 8 is:

     Shabana v Darwish
     Ashour v Lincou
     Willstrop v Matthew
     Palmer v Gaultier

You would certainly get odds against all that working out, but if it does, semi-finals night in the glamorous setting of Hong Kong harbour will be the place to be. Happily I will be there.

13-Nov-08:
Live on Pearl

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open 2008 will commence next week, and to promote squash for locals, TVB Pearl will be broadcasting the semi-finals and finals live on 22nd and 23rd November, with delayed broadcast featuring highlights of the day.

HK Squash Chairman Mr. David Mui and Ms. Cecilia Tan, Deputy Controller, Programme Division of TVB attended the contract signing ceremony held yesterday.

Chinese version in the Blog
 

27-Oct-08:
Draws for 2008             full draws

The draw for the 2008 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open was made today, with all the world's top players in the hat for one of the world's longest-standing and popular major events.

    
Men's Draw                   Women's Draw
 


HK Squash Chairman
Mr David Mui on local TV

25-Oct-08:
Back to the Waterfront

Once again, fans will be treated with world class squash when the annual “Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open 2008” takes place at the world’s most vibrant city in November.

Presented by Hong Kong Squash with the full support of Cathay Pacific, the sporting extravaganza will be held from November 17 to 23 at the Hong Kong Squash Centre in Central and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza in Tsim Sha Tsui.

A “Platinum Series” on the world circuit, the week-long tournament will feature top WISPA players as well as the PSA stars. With a winning purse of HK$1.6 million at stake, the world’s top 30 players will certainly be ready to compete for the prestigious men and women’s titles.

To showcase the scenic view of the Victoria Harbour, the tournament will be staged at the Tsim Sha Tsui water front when entering the semi-final stages.

Matches will be held in a state-of-the-art glass court erected at the Piazza of the Cultural Centre, with the grand Harbour as its natural backdrop. A big screen will also be set up at the Piazza where people visiting one of the world’s busiest shopping areas can take a break and enjoy some world class sport.

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open, which is also supported by the Hong Kong government’s Major Event Sports Committee and is awarded “M” mark status, is always popular with the domestic and international squash community. A large contingent of players, coaches, families, fans and international media will be in Hong Kong in November to witness this spectacular event.

Ticket for the “M” event is available at Hong Kong Squash office from October 27 and advance booking is welcome. Please call 2523 2225 for information. You may also contact Hong Kong Squash at 2869 1592 or via fax at 2869 0118 for more details.

Don’s miss the opportunity of joining the world‘s best players for a week of top class squash at the “2008 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open” Act now and see you then!
  


2005 World Open

Preview

[Home] [TODAY] [Draws] [Info] [Gallery] [Twitter] [History]

www.squashsite.co.uk/hk