Squash players in comical outfits swung their rackets nonstop with enthusiasm at an annual fundraising tournament last week to support vulnerable communities in Hong Kong.
Held at the Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) squash centre, the 27th Wing Ding Squash Charity Tournament has raised HK$390,000 so far, with a goal of reaching HK$500,000 for Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual citywide fundraising initiative run by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK since 1988.
Stephen Gollop, chairman of the HKFC squash section’s charity subcommittee and organiser of the event, said 182 players from 14 teams, aged eight to 80, took part this year.
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“What we’re trying this year and going forward is to try and make the thing as inclusive as possible,” he said.
Teams wore unique costumes – with a Ronald McDonald, a life-size shark and Santa Claus among those competing across seven courts.
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Unlike typical best-of-five games, each about 40-minute match in Wing Ding required players to score as many points as possible, with costumes adding up to 40 extra points.