Ivan aims to break into world’s top 40 in 2017
KUALA LUMPUR: National number two men’s squash player Ivan Yuen aims to break into top 40 in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World rankings next year.
After progressing into top 50 this year with the current rank of 45, the 26-year- old now hopes to continue his progress next year in the international level tournaments with better achievement.
“This year has been great... I have improved my results from previous years, especially after finishing my studies early this year. So, now I can be a fulltime player and concentrate more on squash.
“I achieved my target this year to be in top 50, so next year I hope to be in top 40 by doing better and to progress step by step. For next year, I am just going to train and work harder, believe in myself, keep pushing and move forward,” he told Bernama.
Despite having yet to win major titles, the Kuala Lumpur born earned second place at the World University Championship in Sept and at the US$ 25,000 event, Men’s COAS International in Pakistan in October.
However, the left handed player came into the limelight at the Macau Open, after he marched into the quarterfinals all the way from the qualifying round.
At the ongoing inaugural Ohana Malaysian Doubles Open Squash Championships, Ivan, who partnered with national men’s champion Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan for the first time, cruised into the finals after defeating rising pair of Ng Eain Yow/ Mohd Syafiq Kamal 11- 8, 11- 9 at the semifinals yesterday.
The second seeded pair will be challenged by top seeds, Zac Alexander/ Rex Henderick of Australia for the inaugural title at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre, here.
On his plans for next year, Ivan will start his season with the prestigious Tournament of Champions (ToC) at Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall in New York from Jan 12-19.
“It is a big tournament, where everyone will be hungry and keen to win, so I just wanted to be there and fight with everyone as far as I could. After ToC, the calendar is not really fixed, still in planning stage,” he said. — Bernama