Finally, our own player will feature in Malaysian Open final
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in seven years, the hosts will be represented in the men's final of the Ohana Malaysian Open.
World No. 77 Ng Eain Yow stunned Egypt’s Mazen Gamal, who’s ranked 20 places higher, 13-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-1 at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Eain Yow will be up against fourth seed Ivan Yuen in an all-Malaysian clash.
Ivan ended compatriot Sanjay Singh Chal’s gallant run by triumphing 12-10, 11-5, 11-3.
Mohd Azlan Iskandar was the last local player to win the title when he defeated Egypt’s Tarek Momen.
Eain Yow, who won two gold medals at the recent Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, was pleased with his performance.
“I’m so happy to win today. This will ensure a Malaysian will be in the men’s final,” said the 2016 world junior champion.
“I was in touch with Wan (second seed Nafiizwan Adnan who pulled out due to injury sustained from a motorcycle accident on Tuesday) yesterday and he told me to give my best shot and win it for the country, so I’m really pumped up.”
Eain Yow, who is chasing his third PSA Tour title, fought tooth and nail in almost an hour to prevail against Mazen.
The turning point came when Eain Yow won a rally with the score at 6-6 in the third set.
“I made it really tough for him and that rally killed him off. He couldn’t come back after that,” added Eain Yow.
World No. 47 S. Sivasangari is the lone Malaysian women standing after second seed Rachel Arnold was ousted in the last eight.
Sivasangari outplayed compatriot Aifa Azman 11-9, 11-4, 11-3 to set up a date with Japanese eighth seed Satomi Watanabe, who beat Rachel 11-6, 11-7, 11-3.
Sivasangari will fancy her chances against Satomi having beaten her four out of five meetings over the last 18 months.
“Satomi and I are from the same batch and it’s going to be close as always,” she said.
“But I have homeground advantage ... that will give me an edge.”