05-Sep, Day TWO:
Qualifying Finals      watch the replays

[7] Carmen Lee (Hkg) 3-1 Ho Ka-Wing (Hkg)
           7/11, 11/9, 11/8, 11/6 (32m)
Tang Yan Yi (Hkg) 3-1 [6] Ali Hemingway (Wal)
           12/10, 11/8, 9/11, 11/5 (44m)
[3] Jemyca Aribado (Phi) 3-2 Chan Sin Yuk (Hkg)
            4/11, 11/9, 11/8, 7/11, 11/6 (46m)
Li Sum Yin (Hkg) 3-1 Wong Po Yui (Hkg)
           7/11, 11/7, 11/5, 11/8 (25m)

[6] Carlos Cornes (Esp) 3-1 Henry Leung (Hkg)
           11/8, 11/4, 11/9 (31m)
[2] Mahesh Mangaonkar (Ind) 3-1 Tsz Kwan Lau (Hkg)
           11/7, 9/11, 11/9, 11/3 (41m)
[1] Vikram Malhotra (Ind) 3-1 [5] Evan Williams (Nzl)
            11/9, 11/6, 3/11, 11/3 (40m)
[4] Tayyab Aslam (Pak) 3-2 Israr Ahmed (Pak)
             8/11, 11/2, 12/10, 3/11, 11/5 (71m)

Hong Kong hat-trick in women's qualifying

It was another good day for the local women's players as qualifying concluded at Hong Kong Football Club, with three HK players claiming unexpected places in the main draw.

Eight-time club champion Carmen Lee was first though as she came from a game down to beat Ho Ka-Wing, who had beaten the top seed yesterday.

"I've had a wildcard in previous years, but I actually enjoy having to play a couple of times to get through, rather than just losing in the first round," said a delighted Lee, who now plays second seeded Egyptian Nour El Tayeb.

"I had almost two years off, concentrating on coaching and just enjoying my squash, but I joined PSA so I could play in this, and maybe a few other events. It's tough going back to competitive squash with virtually no training, but I'm loving it!"

Li Sum Yin and Tang Yan Yi, both unseeded in the qualifying competition, also made it through with wins over Wong Po Yui and Ali Hemingway, and both face Indian opponents in the main draw in Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal.

The final spot was grabbed by Jemyca Aribado of the Philippines, who came through a hard-fought five-setter against top HK junior Chan Sin Yuk.

"She really took it to me in the first game, it took me a while to get going," said Aribado. "It's the first time I've qualified for anything as big as this, I've only ever made $5k events before, so I'm really really happy!"

She earns a shot at another HK player, eight seed Liu Tsz Ling.

By contrast there were no home qualifiers in the men's, with all the matches going to seeding.

Top seeded Indian pair Vikram Malhotra and Mahesh Mangaonkar joind the Indian women in the main draw as they beat Evan Williams and Tsz Kwan Lau, both in four games.

"That was a tough one for me," said Malhotra. "Evan and I always seem to end up playing each other, so I'm happy to get through that one. I was qualifier #1 for two months and no-one pulled out, which is very unusual, so I'm happy to make the main draw now, and pleased to join the ladies!"

Both now meet Egyptian opponents as Malhotra faces top seed Zahed Mohamed while Mangaonkar meets 2012 HKFC champion Omar Mosaad, the third seed.

Spain's Carlos Cornes managed to keep his cool in his match against yesterday's upset hero Henry Leung, winning in straight games to set up a match against local favourite Leo Au.

The final spot was claimed by Tayyab Aslam, who recovered from a mid-match ankle injury to beat fellow Pakistani Israr Ahmed in five games.

"That was a good match," said Aslam, "we play each other often and I'm happy with how I performed tonight, it's a while since I played a PSA event. It's the fourth time I've played this event and the fourth time I've qualified, I hope I can go further than round one this time!"

To do so he'll have to beat Campbell Grayson, the eighth seed from New Zealand.

Round one commences at 15.00 on Wednesday, with matches taking place on all three all-Glass courts.