Rising star Amber wins second title

KOTA KINABALU: Rising star of Sabah squash, Amber Muyou clinched her second victory at the 14th CIMB Foundation Rising Star National Junior Circuit 1st Leg 2019 in Melalacca over the weekend.

After a remarkable victory in the REDTone KL Junior Open Squaka Championship in December last year, Amber continued her victory march and justified her top-seed ranking in the Girls’ Under-9 category by beating second-seeded Emelda Camalia Abd Razak 3-2 in a hardfought final.

Amber took the first set 11-9 but lost the subsequent two sets 14-16, 5-11 after being mentally affected when the umpire asked her not to seek instructions from her coach in play during the first set.

Boosted by the cheering from her teammates, she ultimately regained confidence and focus to eventually clinch victory by winning the last two sets 11-6, 115.

Meanwhile, fellow Sabahan Danny Gan finished in fourth place after losing to Altamis Aqhar from Sarawak in play-off of the Boys’ Under-11 category.

Danny had upset the first-seeded Jayden Onn with a 3-1 win in the round-of-last-16, only to be ousted 1-3 by fourth-seeded Rheshan Anbumani from Selangor in the semifinals.

Doyce Lee also finished in fourth place after losing to Shalini Muniges from Selangor in the Girls’ Under-13.

A total of 27 Sabahan players competed in the five-day championship that started on February 27.

Others that made it to the last 16 were Ean Lee (16th - BU9), Clement Richard (9th - BU11), Jedidah Kwan (11th – BU11), Nicolix Eng (14th – BU11) and Euodia Lai (14th – GU13).

Team manager Connie Lo commended the players for their fighting spirit and hoped they would continue to compete in the 2nd Leg to be held in Kuantan, Pahang next month.