A record number of entries are set for this year's K-Swiss Inter-School Tennis Championships, which will take place during the week of 21 - 27 January 2008 at Victoria Park Tennis Courts. In Division I, teams will have to contend with two-time defending champions HKIS in the boys' section, while DGS will be looking to extend its dominance in this competition to a fourth successive title.
A number of new schools have entered the fray in this edition of the K-Swiss Inter-School, most notably in the Boys' Division II that totaled 20 entries. In all, there are 40 entries in both Divisions I and II.
With several key senior players having graduated this past summer, defending boys' champion HKIS will have to battle teams on terms that are more level. Its main challengers such as Diocesan Boys' School, La Salle, and last year's runner-up, King George V, however, have all been drawn in the same group in the initial round robin stage.
On the girls' side, Diocesan Girls' School does not look quite like they are ready to give up their three-year stranglehold on the Inter-School title, as they own a current roster that looks even stronger than from seasons past. The roster this year boasts the likes of Geraldine Leong, Sher Chun Wing, Leung Lok Sze, Sher Pui Wing, Yu Ching Wai, and Katherine Ip.
Both Geraldine Leong and Sher Chun Wing have already won Ladies' open singles titles in Hong Kong before, with the former triumphing at the 2005 SCAA Open and the latter at the 2006 HK Nationals. Just a couple of months ago, Sher Pui Wing was a runner-up in the Ladies' singles to former Hong Kong No. 1, Tong Ka Po, at the 2007 CRC Open. Last month's HK National Tennis Championships at Victoria Park saw Katherine Ip win the Ladies' open doubles title, with Leung Lok Sze bagging the Ladies' B singles as well.
Their strength and depth will be hard to match.
Teams are divided into two groups of four in Division I, with Group A's top finisher playing Group B's second place getter in one semifinal, and the Group B winner entertaining Group A's second place getter in the other semifinal match-up. The resulting winners will then face-off in a title decider.
The Division I semifinals and finals in both the Boys and the Girls' sections are scheduled for Sunday, January 27, 2008.
Last year, Ryan Ho's KGV beat Ko Ka Chun's La Salle (A) 2-1 in the semifinals to book its place in the title decider against HKIS, who easily saw off Ying Wa, 3-0, in the other final four match-up. In the ensuing final, a Kevin Kung-led HKIS team simply had too much firepower, as they beat KGV 3-0 to claim their second straight title.
During the 2005-06 season, former HKIS captain, Kevin Kung, claimed the B18U singles title at the Lions HK National Jr Championships as well as the CRC Open School Boys' title to end the year as the HK number one. For good measure, he also reached the men's open singles final at the 2006 HK Nationals before falling to former two-time winner, Andrew Town.
2006 Gallery
2005 Gallery
[Roll of Honour] (2005-06)
Just who shall reign over this year's Inter-School? Come visit Victoria Park during the week of 21 - 27 January 2008 and find out for yourselves! What's more, there will be a LUCKY DRAW on Sunday, January 27, for all ticket holders. However, admission tickets are on a first-come-first-served basis only, even though they are complimentary, and must be collected in person. So see you down at VP!
For details regarding the Order of Play and the Draws for the respective divisions, CLICK HERE.