Darren redeems himself by reaching SSJM semis
KUALA LUMPUR: Darren Rahul Pragasam had a nightmare experience at the recent Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
The 18-year-old was handed the task of saving Malaysia’s hopes in the semi-finals of the team squash event against the Philippines after Ng Eain Yow had crashed to a straight-set loss to Robert Garcia in the first tie.
Darren was up next and he crumbled under pressure to lose 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-4, 8-11 to little-known Juan Rafael Yam as Malaysia suffered a shocking 2-0 loss.
Yesterday, Darren showed he had recovered from the ordeal by playing the game of his life to storm into the semi-finals of the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit (SSJM) No. 10 at the NSC Squash Centre in Jalan Duta.
The world No. 355 played with fire in his eyes as he scored an 11-8, 11-8, 2-11, 4-11, 11-8 win over Iran’s Sajad Zareian Jahromi in the quarter-finals.
It was Darren’s fourth match in two days. He had battled past Garcia and Pakistan’s Zahir Shah in the qualifiers on Tuesday before beating eighth seed Ahmad Alsaraj of Jordan 7-11, 12-10, 11-1, 11-9 in the first round yesterday morning.
“I had a terrible week at the SEA Games. I let the pressure get to me when I played Yam. I panicked when he won the second set,” admitted Darren.
“It affected me mentally because everyone expected the team to do well. But I learned a lot from the loss.
“I came into this tournament hoping to show that I have what it takes to play at the top level.
“Playing four matches over two days is not easy. But I’m happy that I overcame it to make the semi-finals,” added Darren.
Darren will be playing in the semi-finals of a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour tournament for the first time. He faces top seed and world No. 66
Harinderpal Sandhu of India today for a place in the final.
In the women’s event, national junior Lai Wen Li will also be playing in her first semi-finals of a PSA Tour tournament.
The 17-year-old Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) trainee thrashed third seed Sachika Ingale of India 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 before going on to beat teammate and eighth seed Chan Yiwen 8-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 in the quarter-finals.
The world No. 137 faces top seed and compatriot Rachel Arnold for a place in the final.
The other semi-final will be between second seed Lee Ka Yi of Hong Kong and Malaysia’s seventh seed Andrea Lee.