Chan/Sivasangari face Arnold sisters in Malaysian Doubles Open Squash final
KUALA LUMPUR: Teenagers Chan Yiwen/S. Sivasangari upset the tournament’s second seeded pair, Aifa Azman/Andrea Lee to reach the final of the inaugural Ohana Malaysian Doubles Open Squash Championship yesterday.
However, the win was not easy for them against the British Junior Open champion Aifa, and her partner Andrea after trailing 7-10 in the first set, before making a comeback to win 11-10, 6-11, 11-10 after a 37-minute close battle.
They will be facing another uphill task in the final against top seeded Arnold sisters, Delia and Rachel, who outclassed Aika Azman/ Lai Wen Li 11- 6, 11- 5 in another semifinals at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here.
Needless the 16-year- old Chan and 17- year- old Sivasangari promised to go all out against the Internat ional Doubles Championships bronze medallist to challenge for the title today.
“It is going to be tough, because both of them are strong and make a good pair. But we will push and fight till the end to deliver the best performance,” the Commonwealth Yout h Game s c h ampion, Sivasangari told Bernama.
In the men’s doubles event, the partnership of the country’s top two players Ivan Yuen/ Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan easily passed through the rising pair of Ng Eain Yow/Mohd Syafiq Kamal 11- 8, 119 to set up appointment against Australia’s Zac Alexander/ Rex Henderick.
The Malaysian pair wanted to maintain their quick play to finish off the match faster against the Australians, who tended to play long rally and waited for the opponents to make mistakes.
“I think doubles is quite a risky game because if you keep it too long, your opponents will take advantage.
“So, it is better to finish quick, stick to game plans and collect more points as well as reduce mistakes,” Ivan said.
Earlier in another semifinal tie, Addeen Idrakie/Sanjay Singh gave the Aussie pair a run for their money before losing 11- 4, 10-11, 118 after a 58- minute hard fought battle. — Bernama