Jessica Keng is Asian Junior Individual Squash Open champ
KOTA KINABALU: Jessica Keng showed her class as she emerged champion in the 24th Asian Junior Individual Squash Open in Amman, Jordan over the weekend.
Seeded first in the Girls’ under-15 category, the Sabahan ace faced little problem as she justified the top billing to be crowned Asian junior champion.
Jessica was up against fellow Malaysian, the second seed Kiroshanna Manoharan, in the final and the former ensured there would be no upset of the seeding to win 11-8, 119, 11-7.
Earlier, the SMK Inanam student received a first round bye to set up a quarter-final match against India’s joint fifth to eighth seed Anannya Morey and won 11-2, 11-2, 110.
In the semifinals, Jessica faced yet another opponent from India, the joint third and fourth seed Ananya Dabke, and again she showed her prowess with a 12-10, 116, 11-4 win.
There was no looking back for Jessica in the final as she edged Kiroshanna to bag her sixth title of the year.
Sabah Squash Association president Keng Chuan Seng said the victory was well deserved for the highly talented Jessica, who is the only Sabahan in the national junior squad in Jordan.
“Lots of sacrifices in terms of time away from family, friends and studies...lots of hard work involving diligent training.
“Thanks to the coaches, players of Sabah squash, especially at Likas squash courts,” said Keng, who is also Jessica’s father, in a text message yesterday.
For the record, Jessica was one of the five winners from the Malaysian squad to the championships which ended on Saturday.
Like Jessica, the other four winners were top seeds in their respective categories namely Muhammad Amir Amirul Azhar (boys’ under15), Joachim Chuah Han Wen (boys’ under-13), Siow Yee Xian (boys’ under-17) and Aira Azman (girls’ under-13).