Low & Lee Claim Surprise Success In Asian Junior Championships

Second seeds Max Lee, from Hong Kong, and Wee Wern Low, from Malaysia, secured the titles in the Asian Junior U19 Championships after the favourites had suffered early exits in the regional tournament in Singapore.

In the all-Hong Kong men's final, Lee defeated 5/8 seed Leo Au 9-6, 9-6, 10-8 in 31 minutes to end a Pakistan/Malaysian stranglehold on the title. In the semi-finals, Au beat Choong Kam Hing, the 9/16 seed from Malaysia who had earlier ousted top-seeded compatriot Mohd Asyraf Azan.

Women's favourite Annie Au bowed out in the semi-finals, beaten by Shin Nga Leung. But the 3/4 seed failed to make it a Hong Kong double - despite taking the first game against Wee Wern Low in the final. Low recovered to win 1-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-4 in 58 minutes to record the first victory by a Malaysian woman since World Open champion Nicol David, also from Penang, in 2001.

Men's U19 Final:
[2] Max Lee (HKG) bt [5/8] Leo Au (HKG) 9-6, 9-6, 10-8 (31m)

Women's U19 Final:
[2] Wee Wern Low (MAS) bt [3/4] Shin Nga Leung (HKG) 1-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-4 (58m)