Singapore Smash: Lee Ho-ching misses chance at $US2m prize pool after losing to world No 6 Hina Hayata
- Lee has four game points to level overall score before losing 3-1 to world number six Hina Hayata of Japan
- 58-year-old former China national team player Ni Xialian of Luxembourg reaches women’s doubles semi-finals
Hong Kong’s Lee Ho-ching put up a brave fight before losing to Hina Hayata of Japan in a battle to reach the women’s quarter-finals at the US$2 million Singapore Smash tournament on Tuesday.
As the last of the city’s player in the singles competition, following the early exit of teammates Doo Hoi-kem, Minnie Soo Wai-yam and Ng Wing-nam and Zhu Chengzhu in the qualifiers, Lee fought hard to preserve the honour of a team that won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics last summer.
Things might have different if at 2-1 down she had taken the opportunity to draw in the fourth game. Lee, the world No 53, had four game points at 10-6, but Hayata, the world No 6, clawed her way back to level at 10-all, extending the game to deuce when Lee crumbled after two unforced errors. Hayata finally won 3-1 (11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10).
Chan Kong-wah, the Hong Kong head coach, said Lee had lacked the killer instinct when facing the big points.
“This was not a very good performance from the two players as they both made many mistakes,” the coach said.
