Juniors impress Nicol

NICOL David is pleased with the progress of the national juniors after booking her place in the semi-finals of the Ohana National Championships yesterday at the expense of one those budding players.

Chan Yiwen was able to take away an experience of a lifetime after going up against the eight-time world champion with another national junior Andrea Lee next in line to face Nicol’s might today at the Jalan Duta Squash Centre.

Three-time national champion Nicol was suitably impressed with 17-year-old Yiwen, who prevented the top seed from taking the lead until 5-4 in the opening game, before sealing an 11-6, 11-2, 11-2 victory in the quarter-finals.

“Its great to see the juniors coming through and Yiwen hits the ball really well,” said Nicol, making a return to the national meet after an absence of three years.

“I’ve seen her play a few times and to be on court and to see how she strikes the ball, so its good to play with her, a good potential. I’m just glad to have played a good game and kept it solid and won 3-0.”

With Andrea up next, Nicol feels it’s a good opportunity for the juniors to learn what it takes to play against a top player.

“It’s great that they feel that way and I get a chance to play them too,” said World No 6 Nicol, making her first appearance on home soil since a quarter-final exit at the World Championship in April 2016.

Andrea, 18, overcame fellow national junior Zoe Foo 11-7, 11-6, 11-3 to advance to the last-four for the first time and set up a daunting match-up against Nicol.

“It’s a great opportunity to play against a top player, it will be a good experience,” said Andrea. “Nicol is really good at controlling the ball and I will just try to play my own game.”

Second seed Rachel Arnold is just one win away from becoming a first-time finalist after overcoming national junior Ooi Kah Yan 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 and faces Teh Min Jie, who has yet to get on court after a first round bye and when her last-eight opponent Aifa Azman withdrew with an ankle sprain she suffered on Tuesday.

In a clash between two former Asian champions, men’s top seed Nafiizwan Adnan sailed past Ong Beng Hee, now a national coach, 11-1, 11-7, 11-5 to improve his record against his former national teammate to 5-8.

Nafiizwan will meet Syafiq Kamal for a place in the final while second seed Ivan Yuen takes on world junior champion Ng Eain Yow. Devinder Singh