PPA Tour Asia's dragon medal set comes to a head in Hong Kong. A 500-level medal forms the tail and a 1000-level medal the body, and this year the head is only on offer at the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam at Kai Tak Arena, October 19 to 25, where reaching a final completes the set.
Seven players already hold a tail and a body, among them Tama Shimabukuro, who has seven 2026 titles, Australian partners Sahra Dennehy and Danni-Elle Townsend, Alix Truong, Hien Truong, Len Yang and Joey Wild.
Coachino 분석
Collectible milestones like the dragon give regional players a season-long goal. Club coaches can borrow the idea with tiered rewards that keep juniors entering events all year.
Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio have advanced from the Hong Kong Slam men’s doubles semifinals. Official results show that they beat Tama Shimabukuro and JW Johnson, taking the opening game 11–7 and the next 11–6. The defeated pair had won their quarterfinal in straight games. This confirms a final berth, not a title. The displayed date records our verification of official results, not a news article’s publication.
Coachino 분석
For doubles preparation, review the partnership’s full run and the next opponent separately. A clean semifinal result still leaves another match to plan for.
Judit Castillo has reached the Hong Kong Slam women’s singles final after defeating Kiora Kunimoto, her partner in the women’s doubles draw. The official semifinal record lists victories of 11–8 and 11–7. The next pairing is against Andie Dikosavljevic, with no completed final score available in the reviewed record. The displayed date records our verification of official results, not a news article’s publication.
Coachino 분석
Facing a familiar doubles partner requires a different competitive plan. Coaches can help players separate shared practice habits from the demands of a singles match.
Tama Shimabukuro advanced to the Hong Kong Slam men’s singles final by beating Noe Khlif in straight games. The official completed-match record shows an 11–8 opener followed by an 11–2 second game. His previous round against Grayson Goldin had required three games. Hunter Johnson is listed as his final opponent, without a completed final score. The displayed date records our verification of official results, not a news article’s publication.
Coachino 분석
The shorter semifinal follows a longer quarterfinal. Coaches can discuss how players reset their preparation between opponents while keeping recovery and final-match planning separate.
