Eain Yow aims to bounce back from disappointing SEA Games team event
PETALING JAYA: Ng Eain Yow is on a mission to redeem himself.
The 2016 world junior squash champion was a big letdown at the SEA Games when he lost to the Philippines’ Robert Garcia in the men’s team semi-finals.
As a result, Malaysia slumped to a 2-0 defeat to the Filipinos – their worst-ever defeat in a team competition which denied them their seven-gold medal target.
The 19-year-old managed to make amends when he bounced back to beat teammate Mohd Syafiq Kamal for the singles gold. It was his second gold at the Games after bagging the doubles gold with Syafiq.
The world No. 83 is aware that he has a lot of work ahead to make up for the disappointment in the team event.
“Winning the gold in singles was a step in the right direction because it was still a target of mine,” said Eain Yow.
“But my performance in the team event definitely affected me. Winning the team event would have been so much more important.
“I did have the support of my parents and friends who assured me that losing is part of the learning process.
“I felt I handled myself well after that to win the singles and that was just what I needed before going back on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour.
“I’m looking to bounce back and make a much bigger impact on the Tour and hopefully climb up the rankings again.”
Eain Yow’s next assignment is the HKFC International which starts in Hong Kong today.
He starts from the qualifiers and meets local player Henry Leung before facing either Spain’s Carlos Cornes Ribadas or Hong Kong’s Chris Lo for a place in the main draw.
Following the Hong Kong meet, he is down to compete in the Nash Cup in Canada from Sept 18-23 and the Texas Open from Sept 26-Oct 1.