Qualifying day at the Hong Kong Open puts family ties on show, with the Bhatia brothers chasing main-draw spots and a brother-versus-sister collision brewing in Mixed Doubles.
Thursday's qualifying
76 players take the courts at Kai Tak Arena for the pro qualifying events. Armaan and Aryaan Bhatia (IND) are both in Men's Doubles qualifying, though not against each other. Armaan arrives fresh off signing a PPA Tour pro contract; Aryaan competes as a UPA Asia Trailblazer, the tour's development-contract program.
Hoang Nam Ly (VIE), who lost to eventual champion Giang Trinh (VIE) 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 in Malaysia Open qualifying, opens his Hong Kong campaign against Trailblazer Ryan Ng (SGP). Home players Venise Chan (HKG) and Ying Suet Lam (HKG) headline Women's Singles qualifying, while Sophia Nhi Huynh (VIE), Mihika Yadav (IND) and Pei-Yu Lai (TPE), each one match short of the main draw in Malaysia last month, try again.
Mixed Doubles carries the family subplot. Yu-Chieh Hsieh (TPE) and Thomas Yu (CHN) sit at the top of the qualifying bracket, and Hsieh's younger brother Chen-An Hsieh (TPE), paired with Yung-Hsin Tseng (TPE), is on a collision course with them. Mihae Kwon (KOR), already a PPA Tour Asia medalist, and Jack Foster (USA), the wildcard who beat Jack Sock on the PPA Tour in the US, are the favourites to reach Friday's main draw.
Malaysians in qualifying
Syed Uzair Sufi (MAS) is in Men's Singles qualifying and pairs with Ryan Ng in Men's Doubles. Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) and Athilla Miasara (MAS) play Women's Singles qualifying; Farreez Isqandar (MAS) partners Fung Boman in Men's Doubles.
What comes next
Main-draw play starts Friday with the Singles round of 16 and quarterfinals, followed by Mixed Doubles. Saturday brings the Men's and Women's Doubles and the first semifinals; Sunday is finals day.
Next on the tour
The tour's next stop is the Sansan Fukuoka Open in Japan, August 26 to 31. Follow the full bracket at events.thepicklebase.com.