Squash
The Hong Kong Squash Open may seem like a warm-up for the East Asian Games looming in December but with a prize purse of HK$1.6 million and a field of top international players, it surely stands as a major event in its own right. Karim Darwish, the current world men’s No 1, will be competing as will Amr Shabana who ruled men’s squash for 33 months before Darwish overthrew him in January this year. For Hong Kong, the immensely promising Dick Lau was the first homegrown player to make it through the qualifying rounds to reach the men’s main draw. In the women’s section of the draw the world No 1, Nicol David, will be taking on the rest, among them the Grinham sisters, Rachael and Natalie, who have been dominant forces in women’s squash for years. Meanwhile for Hong Kong, Rebecca Chiu, Joey Wong and Annie Au will all be striving to make their marks against the world’s great players. Whoever claims the semi-final and final spots in the championship will find themselves fighting for the big prizes in a glass court in front of huge crowds at the Star Atrium of Plaza Hollywood, one of the busiest malls in the territory.

What: Cathay Pacific Gale Well Hong Kong Squash Open 2009
When October 12-18 Where: Hong Kong Squash Centre in Admiralty, Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill How much: $250, $200, $160, $100, $70
Enquiries: 2869 1592 / www.hksquash.org.hk

Sailing
Hong Kong may be comparatively small in area yet its sailing events attract boaties from some of the planet’s most respected yachting countries. This year’s China Coast Race Week, for instance, has gathered entries from Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines for the three-day challenge combination of windward/leeward and islands courses in and around the waters to the southwest of Lamma Island. The race week will be rounded off by a Category 3 Offshore Race starting and finishing in Victoria Harbour, with many of Hong Kong’s famous island landmarks on view en route. With a split start, the ‘big boats’ will start at 4pm on October 23 and the rest at 10 am on October 24. All competitors are expected to finish the race within 48 hours.

What: China Coast Race Week
When: China Coast Regatta October16-18, Category 3 Offshore Race starting 23 October Where: Lamma Island from October 16-18 and Victoria Harbour, 23 October
Enquiries: 2239 0362/ www.rhkyc.org.hk

Hiking
This may not interest Hong Kong’s few couch potatoes but will appeal to those who enjoy the SAR’s great outdoors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has launched a month-long scheme to get people out and about on the MacLehose Trail. Every Saturday from October 3 to 31, guides will be on hand to lead hikers along various grades of difficulty through some of Hong Kong’s most beautiful scenery. The shortest trek takes about 4.5 hours while the most difficult will stretch a hardy soul with legs like steel to about nine hours. All the hikes pass through eight country parks and are free to people with fairly sturdy constitutions and some hiking experience between the ages of 12 and 70.

What: Great Outdoors Hong Kong, Explore the MacLehose Guided Tours
When: October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Where: MacLehose Trail
Enquiries: www.discoverhongkong.com