Danial keeps his shots tight to stun top seed Amir in final

KUALA LUMPUR: Danial Nurhaqiem is in dreamland.

The 14-year-old Terengganu player stunned top seed Mohd Amir Amirul 14-12, 11-6, 11-8 in the boys’ Under-15 final of the Asian Junior Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The sixth-seeded Danial had earlier taken the scalps of second seed Veer Chotrani and fifth seed Yash Fadte, both of India.

“I have improved a lot since joining the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) last year,” said the soft-spoken Danial.

“I won the Under-15 title at the KL Junior Open last year and this is actually my first major title.

“I did it by keeping my shots tight ... and I had good length. Since Amir was the top seed, I really didn’t have any pressure.”

The win also ensured Danial a ticket to compete in the British Junior Open next year.

“I’m very excited to have a chance to go to the British Juniors. I competed in the Under-15 category there (in Sheffield) this year, but I was too nervous and lost in the third round,” said Danial.

“I’ll be better prepared this time ... I’m hoping better results too.”

Danial was the only Malaysian boy to win yesterday as Andrik Lim went down 6-11, 7-11, 3-11 to Pakistan’s Asad Ullah in the Under- 13 final.

Pakistan also took the Under-17 title when eighth seed Abbas Zeb stunned top seed Tushar Shahani of India 11-7, 11-8, 14-16, 11-7 in the final.

In the Under-19 final, India’s Velavan Senthilkumar clawed his way back from a two-set deficit to beat Jordan’s Mohammad Alsarraj, the conqueror of top seed Ng Eain Yow of Malaysia in the last four, 12-14, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.