FAITH IN YOUTH PAYS OFF

Eain Yow and Sivasangari achieve careerhigh rankings

DEVINDER SINGH devinder@nst.com.my ranking of 47th in the women’s rankings, and is only behind Nicol David among Malaysians.

Eain Yow, 19, is making steady progress after being ranked as low as 111th in May but began moving up the rankings after winning his second career PSA Tour title at the Northern Territory Open in Darwin the same month.

“Now that I’ve moved out of the junior ranks, I don’t really think about age as being important. I’m looking at those higher up in the rankings and trying to make way up,” said Eain Yow, who had mixed outings in his last two tournaments in Hong Kong and Canada last month.

“But being the youngest in the top 80 does provide motivation especially when you look at (2014 world junior champion) Diego Elias, who is only a year older, ranked 15th in the world.”

After a five-game defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong player Henry Leung at the HKFC International, Eain Yow put in a improved performance in another five-game loss against England’s World No 53 Ben Coleman at the Nash Cup in London, Ontario. “There were a lot of things that happened when I went to Hong Kong as it was just days after the Sea Games and I was mentally tired,” said Eain Yow.

“Henry is quite a good player and had a few chances but it could have gone either way. But against Ben, who is ranked higher, I played well.”

Eain Yow is preparing for the Malaysian Open on Oct 18-21 in Bukit Jalil where he is due to face second seeded compatriot Nafiizwan Adnan in the first round.

Now that I’ve moved out of the junior ranks, I don’t really think about age as being important.”