appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Paul McNamara

After Ocean Park provided Tomato Ho Tze-lok with some of her favourite childhood memories, she has targeted another landmark visit to the theme park during the 2025 Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open.
From the quarter-finals onwards, this year’s tournament will be contested in a glass court located at the attraction’s entry plaza.
To stand any chance of playing at the venue where she used to savour “seeing the pandas, because they’re so cute, and riding on the cable car”, Ho must overcome one of her best friends, the Egyptian No 13 seed Sana Ibrahim, in round one.
She would then meet either Satomi Watanabe, the No 6 seed, or 19th seed Marina Stefanoni, for a place in the last eight.
“It really surprised me that they would build a squash court at Ocean Park, it would mean so much to me to play there,” No 25 seed Ho said. “But I have to cause two upsets to reach that stage, so I’ll take it step by step.”

Ho has shared rooms with Ibrahim at overseas tournaments, and the pair are regular dinner partners, but they have never clashed on court.
“It’s going to be a different feeling playing a close friend,” Ho said. “We haven’t talked about it yet, but we’ll see each other at the China Open [in Shanghai] next week.”
After she was eliminated from the 2023 Hong Kong Open by fellow Hongkonger Simmi Chan Sin-yuk, Ho talked about having a “psychological problem” and “not being in the mood to play”.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ho said her “mentality is much better than two years ago, but still not at an optimal level”.
“It’s difficult to improve it suddenly, it happens gradually,” she added. “I don’t speak to experts about it, but I share my thoughts with close friends, which helps.”
Ho received a huge confidence boost when she beat the No 1 seed and home favourite Rachel Arnold to win the Asian Championships in Malaysia in June.
“I’d been really nervous for my quarter and semi-finals because I was against lower ranked players, but I felt no pressure for the final,” Ho said.
“I was relaxed and stayed calm, and that experience taught me that if I have that mindset I can perform well.”

After competing in England, Egypt, Qatar and the USA over the past two months, Ho was looking forward to a home tournament and getting to stay at either the city’s Sports Institute or in her own bed.
Her next major goal is the 2026 Asian Games, but long-term Ho is planning to “fight hard” to qualify for the 2028 Olympics. “I’ll be at an age where I can be in my optimum state,” she said.
Defending men’s champion Mostafa Asal, and Hania El Hammamy, who won in 2022 and 2023, are top seeds for the Hong Kong tournament, which has a total prize pot of US$449,000 (HK$3.5 million). The action begins at Hong Kong Squash Centre on December 1.


Hong Kong Squash Open: Egypt stars Nour El Sherbini and Mostafa Asal crowned champions

Hong Kong Squash Open: El Sherbini ‘not done yet’ after toppling world’s best El Hammamy

Hong Kong Squash Open: Japan’s Watanabe summons grit to shock teenager Orfi

Hong Kong Squash Open: Mostafa Asal 2 wins from title but misses facing retired Farag

Hong Kong Squash Open

Hong Kong’s Ho eyes Ocean Park visit, but first she must beat close friend Ibrahim

Tomato Ho (right) in action during this year’s World Games in Chengdu. Photo: Reuters

Tomato Ho with teammate Alex Lau after the pair won their individual Asian Championships titles in June. Photo: Handout

Tomato Ho reaches for a shot during her first-round loss to Lisa Aitken in last year’s Hong Kong Open. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Mental barriers needn’t hold Hongkongers back at National Games: ex-swimmer Yvette Kong

Yvette Kong prepares to take part in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Kong is a mental health champion and entrepreneur following her swimming career. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Kong ahead of the 2018 Asian Games, her final major meet. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Kong swims in her 100 metres breaststroke heat in Rio. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong coach Greg Koenig ready for some me-time after life of fencing and medals

Greg Koenig is hungry for more success after moulding Cheung Ka-long into a two-time Olympic champion. Photo: International Fencing Federation

Greg Koenig issues instructions during this year’s World Championships in Georgia. Photo: FIE

The 47-year-old retains his passion for fencing, but is pledging to focus more on himself. Photo: Elson Li

Greg Koenig celebrates with Cheung Ka-long after his win in Tokyo. Photo: Hong Kong Olympic Committee

Ryan Choi is Hong Kong’s latest fencing star after his World Championships success this year. Photo: Eugene Lee

Greg Koenig with his 13-year-old daughter Chloe, who came to see him in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

Sport

Hong Kong

Tomato Ho has been drawn against No 13 seed Sana Ibrahim in the first round of the Hong Kong Squash Open


Tomato Ho has been drawn against No 13 seed Sana Ibrahim in the first round of the Hong Kong Squash Open.


Tomato Ho Tze-lok

Ocean Park

Hong Kong’s Ho eyes Ocean Park visit, but first she must beat close friend Ibrahim

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tomato Ho has been drawn against No 13 seed Sana Ibrahim in the first round of the Hong Kong Squash Open

Tomato Ho has been drawn against No 13 seed Sana Ibrahim in the first round of the Hong Kong Squash Open