Japanese qualifier Yuta Fukui produced the biggest upset in today’s first round of the Buler Challenge Squash Cup when he beat Australia’s Justin Beard to reach the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event at the Hong Kong Squash Centre in Hong Kong China.
From 2/1 down, the 23-year-old from Nagoya prevailed in a tight fourth game before romping to an 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5 victory over the Australian, ranked more than 100 places above, in 58 minutes.
Fukui will now meet local hero Max Lee, the third seed from Hong Kong who defeated Malaysian Choong Kam Hing 11-3, 15-13, 10-12, 11-5.
Top seed Annie Au delighted her local fans by taking her anticipated place in the last eight of the women’s WISPA World Tour 12 event after beating Hong Kong qualifier Choi Uen Shan 11-5, 11-5, 11-5.
But there will be surprise further Hong Kong interest in the women’s quarter-finals when unseeded Carmen Lee takes on Australia’s second seed Donna Urquhart.
Lee, the 19-year-old world No71 from Hong Kong, beat sixth seed Song Sun-Mi, the world No43 from Korea, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8.
RESULTS: Buler Challenge Cup, Hong Kong China
Men's 1st round:
[1] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Sebastian Weenink (NED) 12-10, 11-8, 11-3 (39m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 (29m)
[Q] Yuta Fukui (JPN) bt Justin Beard (AUS) 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5 (58m)
[3] Max Lee (HKG) bt Choong Kam Hing (MAS) 11-3, 15-13, 10-12, 11-5 (37m)
[4] Dick Lau (HKG) bt [Q] James Huang (TPE) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (43m)
[Q] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [Q] Elvinn Keo (MAS) 11-7, 13-11, 11-6 (40m)
Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 10-12, 11-2, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10 (74m)
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Hon Fung Wong (HKG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (23m)
Women’s 1st round:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Choi Uen Shan (HKG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (21m)
[5] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (24m)
[3] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Elise Ng (HKG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (23m)
[8] Melody Francis (AUS) bt [Q] Yu Ra Choi (KOR) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (19m)
[7] Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) bt [Q] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) 11-9, 12-10, 11-6 (29m)
[4] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-1, 11-1, 11-8 (23m)
Carmen Lee (HKG) bt [6] Song Sun-Mi (KOR) 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8 (35m)
[2] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (20m)
Men’s quarter-final line-up:
[1] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) v Leo Au (HKG)
[3] Max Lee (HKG) v [Q] Yuta Fukui (JPN)
[4] Dick Lau (HKG) v [Q] Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
[2] Jan Koukal (CZE) v Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND)
Women’s quarter-final line-up:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) v [5] Joshna Chinappa (IND)
[3] Dipika Pallikal (IND) v [8] Melody Francis (AUS)
[4] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) v [7] Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS)
[2] Donna Urquhart (AUS) v Carmen Lee (HKG)