Hong Kong Squash Open: costly event pushed up ticket prices but fans getting ‘very good deal’, official says

The Hong Kong Squash Open can speed up the city’s recovery after Covid-19 – and local fans are getting a “very good deal”, despite steep ticket prices for its later stages.

Those are the views of Wilfred Ng Sau-kei, chairman of Hong Kong’s Major Sports Events Committee, which gives the event the city’s most prestigious “M” Mark status.

The tournament, which begins on Monday, will include semi-finals and finals in an outdoor glass court in West Kowloon, after initial rounds at Central’s Hong Kong Squash Centre.

General seating for the semis costs HK$280 (US$36), while “prime” seats are HK$480. The equivalents for Sunday’s finals are HK$330 and HK$540. The opening round starts at HK$100, climbing to HK$250 for Friday’s quarter-finals.

Hong Kong’s Chan Sin-yuk faces Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in the Asian Games singles final. Photo: SF&OC

“Prices are very, very cheap for a world-class event – check how much you would pay to watch the same players at the Olympics,” Ng told the Post.

“The people of Hong Kong are getting a very good deal. There are a limited number of seats – the outdoor facility has only 1,000. Staging an outdoor event is very costly, so that is one reason for setting prices a bit higher.”

The Hong Kong Open is among the leading stops on squash’s World Tour and has attracted the best. Ali Farag, the world champion, will aim to win the men’s title for the first time, while fellow Egyptian Mostafa Asal defends it a month after returning from a 12-week ban for multiple transgressions.

Hania El Hammamy of Egypt is targeting a second straight women’s crown, but will face competition from compatriot, world No 1 and 2017 winner Nour El Sherbini.

“This tournament will show the world Hong Kong is recovering from Covid, step by step,” Ng said.

“The economy is picking up and the event will attract overseas people. They will go home and talk about what is happening in Hong Kong, the environment and the hospitality, and if more tourists visit, that will speed up the city’s recovery.”

The women’s first round has an all-Hong Kong contest, with Tomato Ho Tze-lok meeting Chan Sin-yuk in a repeat of September’s Asian Games semi-final, won by Chan.

“I am pleased we can have such a big event in Hong Kong,” Ho said. “It is hard to attract people to squash. Badminton and table tennis are popular, and fencing is rising because of the Olympic gold [for Cheung Ka-long in 2021].

“The quality of players and outdoor location can increase awareness and get more people watching, at the venue or on television.”

Ho’s fellow Asian Games bronze medallist Henry Leung Chi-hin faces 25th seed Youssef Ibrahim of Egypt on Monday, with a match against Asal the prize for the winner.

“I am very excited about playing in my home city in front of my family, friends and girlfriend,” Leung, seeded 47, said.

“I lost 3-1 to Youssef last time, and have watched back the video to see where I can put him under more pressure.

“The tournament is a good opportunity to attract people who do not know squash to come and support us.”