Hong Kong squash prodigy Chan Sin-yuk lifts Tournament of Champions Challenger trophy in New York City
- The 19-year-old breaks into world’s top 50 with triumph at Grand Central Terminal, earning a spot in women’s main draw
- Chan wants to represent Hong Kong at September’s Hangzhou Asian Games, as part of defending women’s team champions
Hong Kong youngster Chan Sin-yuk staked her claim for a place at the Asian Games after lifting the women’s squash title in the Tournament of Champions Challenger in New York on Saturday.
It was the second trophy in recent months for the 19-year-old, who has now broken into the world’s top 50.
She defeated Egypt’s Kenzy Ayman, the sixth seed, in straight games 14-12, 12-10, 11-5 in the final at Grand Central Terminal.
The Egyptian narrowly defeated another Hong Kong player, Lee Ka-yi, in the semi-finals, edging a gruelling five-game encounter.
The victory will also give Chan a place in the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions [TOC] as a qualifier where she will meet another Egyptian, Zeina Mickawy, in the first round of the gold-level tournament.
Youngster Chan Sin-yuk wins first pro title at Chairman Cup
“It means a lot, especially playing in Grand Central. This is the first time I have played here, and now to win a title here and to get a wild card for the TOC,” Chan, who will have somewhat of a home advantage as a first year student at Columbia University in New York City, told the Professional Squash Association’s official website.
“This means a lot to me. I am very excited to play here again. Hopefully it will be in front of a big crowd.”
The US$230,000 tournament will kick off tomorrow with a field of 24 top players in both the men’s and women’s draws. Another Hong Kong player, Ho Tze-lok, is also set to feature, and will take on Lucy Turmel of England in the first round.
Ho, the world No 34, is the highest-ranked player for Hong Kong following the retirement of former top 10 star Annie Au Wing-chi in 2020.
With then-No 2 Joey Chan Ho-ling also calling it a day after Au, Hong Kong was left with a big a task ahead for September’s Hangzhou Asian Games, as defending women’s team champions.
Chan also reached the final in her last two tournaments, but lost on both occasions. She was forced to pull out of the Karachi Open in March when she suffered an injury in the third game, with the score level at 1-all.
In the Calgary CFO Consulting Services Women’s Squash Week earlier that month, she lost to compatriot Ho in the final after five games.
Now ranked 49th in the world, Chan has an excellent record in junior events. She will be one of the major challengers for a team spot at the Asian Games, as a former Asian junior champion at under-17 level in 2019, and the British Junior Open runner-up in the same year.
