Locals Shine In Hong Kong Buler Challenge
by Howard Harding
19 April 2012 - There will be domestic interest in all but one of the Buler Challenge Cup quarter-finals after notable successes by local players in today's opening round of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its eighth year at the Hong Kong Squash Centre in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong champion Max Lee justified his status as top seed by dismissing India's Harinder Pal Sandhu 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4 to set up a meeting with Ahmad Al-Saraj, a Jordanian making his first appearance in Hong Kong.
But there was a major shock at the other end of the draw where Hong Kong's unseeded Dick Lau ousted second-seeded Malaysian Muhd Asyraf Azan 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9 after a 65-minute battle.
Lau, ranked 75 in the world, now meets Mahesh Mangaonkar, an Indian ranked almost 70 places lower who knocked out Japanese qualifier Tsukue Shinnosuke 11-5, 11-2, 11-7.
Hong Kong's third player in the quarter-finals is Leo Au, the No4 seed who despatched Japan qualifier Yuta Fukui 11-4, 11-7, 11-8.
The 22-year-old world No59 will face Valentino Bon Jovi Bong, a Malaysian who became the only qualifier to survive the first round after beating compatriot Elvinn Keo 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 13-11.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Buler Challenge Cup, Hong Kong China
1st round:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) bt Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4 (47m)
Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) bt [Q] Michael Harris (ENG) 14-16, 11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 12-10 (82m)
[Q] Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) bt Elvinn Keo (MAS) 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 13-11 (59m)
[4] Leo Au (HKG) bt [Q] Yuta Fukui (JPN) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (24m)
[3] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 14-12 (82m)
Kam Hing Choong (MAS) bt Cheuk Yan Tang (HKG) 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 (28m)
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt [Q] Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7 (27m)
Dick Lau (HKG) bt [2] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9 (65m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) v Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR)
[4] Leo Au (HKG) v [Q] Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS)
[3] Ivan Yuen (MAS) v Kam Hing Choong (MAS)
Dick Lau (HKG) v Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND)
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