Against the odds
Andrea marches into semis despite only training for a week
KUALA LUMPUR: It is never easy to perform in a competition with just one week of training.
But Andrea Lee defied the odds to reach the women’s semi-finals of the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit (SSJM) No. 2.
She was out of action since last August due to an injury on her left shoulder and only started training a week ago.
But it did not stop her from coming back strongly from a set down to beat teammate Chan Yiwen 4-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 in the quarter-finals at the Royal Selangor Club yesterday.
Andrea will face another Malaysian Ma Si Yi for a place in the final.
The unseeded Si Yi qualified for the last four after fourth seed and compatriot Aika Azman retired due a foot injury.
Si Yi lost the first set 3-11 before she fought hard to win the second set 12-10.
She was leading in the third seed 9-6 when Aika conceded a walkover due to the injury.
The 20-year-old Andrea said she struggled in the first set due to lack of training.
“It’s never easy to play with just one week of training. I was out of action for five months and only recovered from the injury recently,” said Andrea, whose last competition was the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August last year.
“Despite a long layoff, I did just enough to beat Yiwen to reach the semis.
“I hope I can play much better against Si Yi. I have not played her for a long time and it’ll be tricky,” said Andrea.
Aifa Azman will face Filipino Jemyca Aribado in the other semi-final match.
In the men’s competition, three Malaysians have qualified for the semi-finals.
Top seed Mohd Syafiq Kamal was stretched to the limit by Pakistan’s Zahir Shah before he prevailed with a 4-11, 10-12, 11-1, 11-9, 11-8 win.
Syafiq will face teammate and sixth seed Darren Rahul Pragasam for a place in the final.
The other semi-final match is between seventh seed Asim Khan of Pakistan and Valentino Bong.