DBS's squash champ Lincoln Chan finally defeats long-time rival in Iran
The Diocesan Boys' School student finally came out on top after losing every match to the top Under 17 player in Malaysia
In movies and video games, there's always the big bad guy at the end that the hero needs to defeat. For squash champ Lincoln Chan Wui-ki, that opponent was Ong Sai Hung of Malaysia.
"He is the top Under 17 player in Malaysia," explains Lincoln, 17. "I lost to him 0-3 in the Penang Junior Open 2015. I had also played him three times before and I'd lost every time," adds the Diocesan Boys' School student.
But 17-year-old Lincoln got another chance at the 22nd Asian Junior Individual Championship - Boys Under 17 squash tournament in August, held in Tehran, Iran. After defeating Abeldalkader Ahmad Jeitan of Jordon 3-2 in round two and fellow Diocesan Boys' School student Matthew Lai Cheuk-nam 3-1 in the quarter-final, Lincoln faced Ong Sai Hung again in the semi-final.
"It was a tough match for me," says Lincoln. "He didn't play well and he made a lot of mistakes, and I seized that opportunity and beat him in the semi-final."
In besting his long-standing rival, Lincoln secured his place as first runner up behind Jordan's Mohammed Alsarraj.
"I was surprised that I reached the final," says Lincoln. "It was the biggest squash competition in Asia and I played really well."
Lincoln has been playing squash for nearly six years, but he started off in a different sport.
"I was playing badminton at first," he says. He started playing squash at the suggestion of his PE teacher, who thought Lincoln would enjoy both sports. "After that, I focused on squash because I had better results," he says.
But Lincoln admits there's another reason he prefers squash. "The courts are air conditioned!"
Bench Notes
What is your ultimate goal in your sport?
I want to be the top player in Hong Kong, and ultimately, I want to make it into the top 50 players in the world, like Max Lee, the Hongkonger who made it to number 12.
What song/movie title best describes you when you're playing your sport?
Superheroes, by The Script.
If you could have an unlimited supply of anything, what would it be and why?
Fitness, because it is the basic requirement for squash, and if I had an unlimited supply, I could focus on my skills and game plan to reach the next level.