Hong Kong’s billiards team enjoyed success at the IBSF World 6‑Red & Team Snooker Championships held on 20 ‑ 30 July in Sharm el‑Sheikh, Egypt, picking up gold in the women’s team event and silver in the men’s.

Wan Ka‑kai and Ng On‑yee won the team title by beating a strong Indian outfit. They saw off the defending champions Thailand along the way and looked to be cruising to victory against the Indians in the final at 3‑1 before being pegged back to 3‑3. Ng delivered the deciding frame.

“The results in Egypt at the recent IBSF were once again very pleasing and were delivered off the back of more hard work in preparation from our athletes,” said HKSI’s Head Billiard Sport Coach Wayne Griffiths.

“We always have high expectations of our women athletes as they continually deliver at world class level.”

But Ng, having played almost non‑stop for eight hours in the team event, had just 15 minutes rest before her last‑16 match in the individual 6 Reds event and lost to India’s Vidia Pillai.

“On‑yee was not too disappointed however, and she will learn from that experience and come back stronger.” added Griffiths.

Given Ng’s track record of success, Griffiths was arguably more pleased by Chau Hon‑man’s runner‑up spot in the men’s 6 Reds.

He explained, “That is one of our best results in recent years. He has never really proved himself at individual world class level previously, but this was a superb performance.

“The field in the men's 6 reds included many ex‑professional players and a number of multiple world champions, but Chau more than held his own.

“A fantastic win in the semi‑final against former professional Andrew Pagett was a real highlight. In the final Chau again showed real grit and determination but finally lost out 4‑6 to Darren Morgan (former top‑eight ranking as a professional and multiple IBSF champion).

“This sees him join a long list of elite A athletes in the squad and is well deserved for his perseverance in the last 12 months.”

Chau and Wan have both come through the HKSI’s talent ID programme and potential development programme in the last five years, also pleasing Griffiths greatly.

“This is a real boost for the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council and our elite training programme, and a real credit to the dedication and skill of these two players. Hopefully it will bring further success on the world stage for the future,” he added.

The sport has hired a former pro, David Roe, once ranked as high as number 13 in the world, to ensure sustainable improvement for the future.

“He will bring us fresh eyes and a very strong strategic and development element to our training programme, and I hope this can help our coaching team to take our players to the next level,” added Griffiths.

There were a host of promising results for Hong Kong’s up‑and‑coming table tennis players at junior and cadet events at home and in Taicang, China this month.

The highlights were double victories for Lee Ka‑yee and Wong Chin‑yau in the cadet girls’ doubles and team competitions at the NIKON Hong Kong Junior & Cadet Open ‑ ITTF Junior Circuit, Golden Series. Lee was also third in the singles.

In total, the young talents shared two gold, one silver and 10 bronze results.

Rising squash talent Lui Hiu‑lam had an impressive month, winning the girls U17 category at the HEAD Hong Kong Junior Squash Open, after reaching the semi‑finals of the women’s singles at the CONTREX Squash Challenge Cup, also in Hong Kong.

There were runner‑up prizes for four local players in the Hong Kong Junior Open ‑ Chan Sin‑yuk (girls U15), Cheng Nga‑ching
(girls U17), Ho Ka‑wing (girls U19) and Wong King‑yeung (boys U17). Two more third‑place results rounded off a seven‑medal haul.

Capping a successful month, Lee Ka‑yi was second at the Challenge Cup event.

Jim Man‑hin finished second in the men’s vault at the Mersin World Challenge Cup held on 1 ‑ 3 July in Mersin, Turkey, a great result for Hong Kong.

He finished with a score of 14.225, just behind the home winner, Ahmet Onder.

Badminton athlete Wong Wing‑ki won a gold medal in the Men's Singles event at the YONEX‑SUNRISE Vietnam Open GP held on 18 ‑ 24 July in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Cycling athlete Choi Kwan‑lok won a gold medal in the Scratch, Men Junior event at the Japan Track Cup held on 8 ‑ 10 July in Izu, Japan.

The Hong Kong cycling team won 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the China National Junior Road Championships held on 9 ‑ 10 July in Xinlinhot, Inner Mongolia.

The Hong Kong mountaineering team won 1 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals at the CMA Youth Championship held on 27 ‑ 28 July in Guangzhou, China.

The Hong Kong rowing team won 2 gold and 3 silver medals at the Asian Rowing Cup II held on 28 ‑ 31 July in Singapore.

The Hong Kong tennis team won 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the ATF Junior U14 Circuit held on 16 ‑ 30 July in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Wheelchair fencing athlete Yu Chui‑yee (Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled) won a gold medal in the Women's Foil Individual (Cat. A) event at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup ‑ Poland held on 13 ‑ 18 July in Warsaw, Poland.