Joey Chan (HKG) beat No1 seed Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 in the final of the Buler Challenge Cup 2012 (photo: WSA) Joey Chan pulled off a famous home-victory in the Buler Challenge Cup final last weekend, after beating No1 seed Rachael Grinham in 5 games.
The top seeded players seemed to struggle early on in Hong Kong, as both eventual finalists were forced to 4 games in round 1. Former world No1 Grinham, defeated local qualifier Tong Tsz-Wing followed by Joshna Chinappa of India and Ho Tze-Lok (HKG), whilst Chan beat compatriot Pansy Chan Pui-Hei, Coline Aumard (FRA) and Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) en-route to the final.
In a close 51-minutes battle, Chan closed out 5-game win (11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 ) in front of her home crowd, making it her 5th WSA title in 7 final appearances.
Final:
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 (51m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (21m)
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [5] Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (26m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [6] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5 (35m)
[Q] Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) bt [7] Olga Ertlova (CZE) 9-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8 (68m)
[5] Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) bt [4] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-6 (65m)
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt Coline Aumard (FRA) 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 (24m)
1st round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3 (37m)
[6] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Karman Siu (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (21m)
[Q] Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) bt [3] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 (39m)
[7] Olga Ertlova (CZE) bt Carmen Lee (HKG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (39m)
[5] Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) bt [Q] Harshit Kaur Jawanda (IND) 11-3, 11-3, 11-7 (19m)
[4] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (23m)
Coline Aumard (FRA) bt [8] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (39m)
[2] Joey Chan (HKG) bt [Q] Pansy Chan Pui-Hei (HKG) 11-5, 7-11, 11-1, 11-2 (24m)
