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West Australian
a day ago
- Business
- West Australian
Khan takes giant step with decisive victory in Golden Open
At just 19 years of age, Pakistan's Hamza Khan on Sunday night basked in the spoils of his first PSA title — hopeful that a decisive victory in the $6000 men's final of the Northern Star Resources Golden Open was just the ticket to propel him up the international rankings. Khan in 2023 was crowned the world junior champion in Melbourne — the first Pakistani to capture that title since Jansher Khan in 1986. Following his 3-0 triumph in last weekend's final against China's Samuel Ka Hei Ho, Khan's PSA ranking was 140. But he was hopeful that his best was to come. 'This is my first PSA title and with the 6k, this has been a very good trip and a great opportunity for me,' Khan said. 'I'm very happy that I won — this gives me a lot of confidence and I will continue to do my best in the future.' On his chances of returning next year to defend his title, Khan said it would depend on his world ranking and the scheduling of other major events. 'You need to play in the big tournaments,' he said. 'If there is a big tournament, of course I will play.' It has been a busy few months for Khan, starting in February at the Pittsburgh Open, followed by the world under-23 championships and last month's South Australian Open, when he reached the semifinals. Born in Peshawar, Khan is the nephew of former world No.14 Shahid Zaman and also a close relative of former world champion Qamar Zaman. Sunday's women's final was won by Hong Kong's Kirstie Wong Po-Yui, 3-2, against Japan's Akari Midorikawa. It was the 21-year-old's first trip to the WA Goldfields and like Khan she revelled in pocketing a career-best $6000 prize money. 'It's actually been quite hard in the past two months (because) I've been to the US and Canada without much (success),' she said. 'But I'm grateful to have support from the Hong Kong Sports Institute who sponsored me and enabled me to get here. 'It (the prize money) is not all mine but I'm still totally happy. 'I turned pro 18 months ago and I've trained very hard for this.'
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Inside Sharlene Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke's time sampling Chinese life while representing Ireland at World Relays
SHARLENE Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke once again led the way as Team Ireland's sprinters had a successful time at the World Relays. Over the course of the meet, the mixed relay quartet 9 They initially geared up for the championships by doing a week's training in Hong Kong Credit: @sharlenem1 9 Before heading on to Guangzhou where they competed for the women's and mixed relay teams Credit: @rhasidat_adeleke 9 Unwinding for an evening out with Team GB ace Amy Hunt Credit: @sharlenem1 9 Sharlene joked 'Don't think I'll be trying this' after coming across cloud ear fungus while browsing a food market Credit: @sharlenem1 The decision to rest Adeleke and Mawdsley was taken so that they could focus on helping the women's 4x400m team to similarly qualify for September's showpiece event. The women's 4x400m team dominated their repechage race to secure their place at Tokyo 2025 with a winning time of 3:24.69. Sophie Becker led off from lane seven and delivered a strong opening leg before handing over to Adeleke, who maintained Ireland's advantage. Rachel McCann held the lead until the final exchange in the third leg where Australia edged ahead. Read More On Irish Sport Tipperary native Mawdsley anchored the team and timed her finish perfectly, kicking on in the last 200m to seal victory. Afterwards Becker, 27, spoke of their "relief" as a foursome at having sealed their place in the Japanese capital later this year. She emphasized: 'I'm so relieved, I think I speak for all of us when I say that. 'It was a great box to tick getting the mixed qualified and now to come out here and get the second team qualified for Tokyo is such a relief. Most read in Athletics "We're really excited to see what the summer brings now.' Dubliner Adeleke added: 'We've solidified ourselves as one of the best relays in the world and we're just continuing that on.' 'My hardest goodbye' - Sharlene Mawdsley jets off after 'hectic two days' saw passport drama nearly cancel China trip Regarding her showing on Saturday for the mixed relay 4x400m side, the 22-year-old continued: 'I was just making sure I put my team in the best position. 'It's still early in the season for me, but I'm excited to be here to have secured qualification. "That's what we came here for and I'm really proud of the team.' The mixed 4x400m team of Jack Raftery, Phil Healy, Aaron Keane and Lauren Cadden finished eighth in their respective final. 9 A gorgeous view of Victoria Harbour that Mawdsley shared on Instagram Credit: @sharlenem1 9 A snap of the track that was their training base while in Hong Kong Credit: @sharlenem1 9 Temperatures soared beyond 30 degrees during their stay Credit: @sharlenem1 9 The Hong Kong Sports Institute would've offered some respite from the heat at least Credit: @sharlenem1 But they were safe in the knowledge that qualification had already been confirmed in Saturday's heats. The team finished with a time of 3:19.64. The men's 4x400m team finished seventh in their heat in a time of 3:04.42 which was not enough to secure qualification. Starting from lane two, Conor Kelly led them away with Cillín Greene keeping Ireland in contention early. Chris O'Donnell and Raftery could not close the gap in the final laps, leaving them outside of the qualification places. 9 The Ireland women's 4x400m team won their heat on Saturday which thereby secured qualification to September's World Athletics Championships
South China Morning Post
25-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
India's RPL circuit ‘will be high-quality sevens experience' for Hong Kong
Hong Kong players will be able to gain vital insights when they rub shoulders with some of the world's best sevens exponents in India in June. Advertisement That is the view of Paul John, the head of Hong Kong sevens rugby, who said it was imperative for his charges to acquire more experience outside the handful of do-or-die tournaments they contest every year. Michael Coverdale, Mak Kwai-chung and Fong Kit-fung are all going to the pioneering Indian-staged Rugby Premier League (RPL), whose six franchise teams will be led by elite coaches and feature marquee international performers. 'Our players will play with and against world-class players, and under world-class coaches, in a completely different environment – which is great for their development on a number of fronts,' John said. 'They'll also mix and train with top players for two weeks before the tournament, so it'll be a high-quality sevens experience.' Fong Kit-fung (centre) gets stuck in during training at Hong Kong Sports Institute. Photo: Elson Li Coverdale will play under All Blacks Sevens head coach Tomasi Cama for Delhi Redz. Another New Zealander, DJ Forbes, is in charge of Hyderabad Heroes, where Fong will line up alongside Argentine powerhouse Luciano Gonzalez. Mak's teammates at Bengaluru Bravehearts include the New Zealand trio of Scott Curry, Tone Ng Shiu and Akuila Rokolisoa.
South China Morning Post
19-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong pair's ‘chronic' Asia Triathlon Cup swims leave coach with National Games fear
Cade Wright and Hilda Choi Yan-yin paid for delivering 'chronic' swimming performances, as the Hong Kong pair finished 10th and 12th, respectively, in the Asia Triathlon Cup in Dexing on Saturday. Advertisement Of the city's five men, Wong Tsz-to delivered the best effort to finish 12th. While Wong and his colleagues are fighting to retain their Hong Kong Sports Institute full-time status, head coach Andrew Wright said the need for Cade Wright and Choi to improve in the water was growing urgent. 'Their swims were chronic – losing two minutes is poor,' coach Wright added. 'There's still time to fix it … if we can't, there's no point entering the National Games individual race [in November].' Advertisement The duo, who were racing in Dexing primarily to work on their swimming legs, emerged from the water more than two minutes down on the leading group. Huang Anqi of China won the race in two hours, one minute and two seconds. Cade Wright came home in 2:06.52, while Choi finished in 2:07.40.
South China Morning Post
18-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Siobhan Haughey's wish? A top-class Hong Kong swimming arena so she can race for home fans
Siobhan Haughey has said she hopes to see an elite-level swimming arena built in Hong Kong before she eventually retires, because she still holds ambitions of competing in her hometown. Advertisement Asked what the city's next major sporting development should be after last month's opening of the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park, the four-time Olympic medallist proposed an elite aquatics facility, adding that she craved the chance to swim in one. How many years Hong Kong has to make Haughey's wish come true is still to be determined, with the 27-year-old taking a wait-and-see approach to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Last Saturday, she began her preparations for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July and August, returning from a three-month break with 100 metres breaststroke victory in Hong Kong's Long Course Swimming Time Trial. It was held behind closed doors at Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI). 'I'm focusing on the Mare Nostrum [Swim Tour in May], the world championships and maybe the National Games [in November], then I'll go from there,' Haughey told the Post. Siobhan Haughey races at Hong Kong Sports Institute following her three-month break. Photo: Edmond So 'Three years is a very long time to plan. I don't want to say I'm fully committed to Los Angeles yet. After this year, I will have a better sense of where I am, physically and mentally.'
