Wee Wern, Sivasangari to face each other in squash semis

KUALA LUMPUR: Former world number five, Low Wee Wern and newly crowned 2018 National Champion S. Sivasangari will face each other in the semifinals of the 2018 Malaysian Open Squash Championship after defeating their respective opponents yesterday.

In the women’s quarterfinals held at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil, Wee Wern struggled before edging Hong Kong’s Liu Tsz-Ling 10-12,116,11-6,11-2 in 39 minutes.

“It was quite a slow start for me, I had a lead but unfortunately lost in the end of the first set. In the second set, I feel more comfortable and manage to control the situation and made important winning in third and fourth sets and sealed the game,” she told reporters after the match.

Third seeded, Sivasangari advanced to semifinals after defeating her opponent from Hong Kong, Lee Ka Yi 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 in 25 minutes.

She said her status as the national champion was no guarantee for her to excel when playing against Wee Wern in the semis today.

“It’s going to be tough because she (Wee Wern) had played very good right up to the semifinals and I’m sure she is all fired up about tomorrow’s (today’s) match.

“Although she lost to me earlier this month at the National Championship finals, things can be different this time. I just have to be mentally prepared and play my game,” she said.

Another semifinals action will see first seeded from Egypt Omneya Abdel Kawy facing fourth seeded Japan’s Satomi Watanabe.

Meanwhile, national number one Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan was shown the exit by first seeded Leo Au of Hong Kong when he lost 3-11, 10-12, 11-4, 8-11 in one hour.

Eight seeded Ng Eain Yow was also unable to step into the semifinals when he lost to fourth seeded Lucas Serme of France 4-11, 7-11, 11-8, 1012 in 57 minutes.

Leo will face Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi from Qatar who whipped Joel Makin of Wales 11-3, 5-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-3 while Lucas will face the winner between second seeded Tsz Fung Yip of Hong Kong and India’s Mahesh Mangoakar in the semifinals today. Bernama