Sabah lass clinches state’s first squash gold in SEA Games
KOTA KINABALU: Lai Wen Li became the first Sabahan to clinch a gold medal from the squash event in the region premier multi-sport event, the SEA Games.
The 17-year-old was part of the Malaysia women quartet contingent who justified their top billing to win the Team gold in the 29th edition of the Games, which came to a close in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Wen Li featured in both games in the round robin stage as well as in the semi-finals, Sabah Squash Association president Keng Chuan Seng texted yesterday.
“Altogether she gave a solid performance, winning all three games she played for the Malaysian Women Team,” said Keng.
Playing as the third singles, Wen Li clinched the third points in each of the round robin matches were Malaysia edged Thailand and the Philippines 3-0 respectively.
Wen Li then contributed the winning points against Indonesia in the semi-finals in which the host nation won 2-0.
However, Wen Li made way for fellow Bukit Jalil Sports Schoolbased teammates Andrea Lee, Aifa Azman and Ooi Kah Yean to play in the final which they won 2-1 against Singapore.
Meanwhile, Sabah’s first Professional Squash Association (PSA) professional player Mohd Fareez Izwan also contributed a bronze medal for the country from the Men’s Doubles.
Seeded joint fifth to eighth, Fareez and doubles partner Ong Sai Hung upset the seeding to beat Indonesia third/fourth seed Reymark Begornia and Robert Andrew Garcia 11-2, 11-6 to move into the semi-finals.
The national duo, however, lost to second seed Pang Ka Hoe and Timothy Leong Yew Sing 5-11, 7-11 to settle for the bronze.