Kah Yan and Wen Li score upsets in SSJM No. 7

PETALING JAYA: Youngsters Ooi Kah Yan and Lai Wen Li upset the formbook to storm into the semi-finals of the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit (SSJM) No. 7.

The pair, both 17, showed that they are not lacking behind their more illustrious teammate – 16-year-old Aifa Azman – after putting up a fine showing at the Sarawak Squash Centre yesterday.

World No. 99 Kah Yan who struggled in five sets against junior Aira Azman in the first round, stepped up in the quarter-finals to record a convincing 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 win over world No. 83 and top seed Jemyca Aribado of the Philippines.

World No. 103 Wen Li put a string of first round defeats behind her as she saw off fourth seed Sunayna Kuruvilla of India 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 in the last eight.

It was a timely boost for the duo ahead of the Asian Team Championships which starts in Cheongju, South Korea, from March 21-25.

Malaysia, the nine-time champions are only sending a second string squad comprising Kah Yan, Wen Li, Chan Yiwen and Ma Si Yi to Cheongju.

Kah Yan will meet third seed Aifa, who easily dispatched compatriot Noor Aina Ampandi 11-4, 11-6, 11-6, for a place in the final.

“I was actually quite tired after my 3-2 win over Aira but I still managed to play well. It’s nice to beat a higher ranked Jemyca because I lost to her 3-0 the last time we met.

“It’s also a good motivation for me ahead of the Asian teams and I’m looking forward to playing Aifa,” Kah Yan said.

Wen Li on the other hand will go up against second seed Ineta Mackevica of Latvia in the last four.

“It’s a good preparation ahead of the Asian meet and I’m pleased to upset the seedings,” she said.

In the men’s event, Sanjay Singh Chal stayed on track for his second Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour final of the year after dispatching Pakistan’s Muhammad Shoaib Hassan 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 in the quarter-finals.

He is up against former national player Mohd Asyraf Azan for a place in the final.

RESULTS

MEN

First round: Shehab Essam (Egy) bt Mohamad Kashani (Iri) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7; Ryan Pasqual (Mas) bt Mohd Hafiz Zhafri (Mas) 11-7, 9-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-5; Ahmed Hosny (Egy) bt Ong Sai Hung (Mas) 11-3, 11-4, 11-6; Darren Rahul Pragasam (Mas) bt Mohammed Ferman Hasan (Irq) 2-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3; Mohd Asyraf Azan (Mas) bt Valentino Bong (Mas) 11-9, 3-11, 11-13, 11-5, 13-11; Ezzri Nazri (Mas) w.o. Abdulrahman Al-Malki (Qat); Muhammad Shoaib Hassan (Pak) bt Adrian Leanza (US) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4; Sanjay Singh Chal (Mas) bt Mohd Farez Izwan (Mas) 11-2, 2-11, 11-5, 11-7.

Quarter-finals: Shehab Essam (Egy) bt Ryan Pasqual (Mas) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7; Ahmed Hosny (Egy) bt Darren Rahul Pragasam (Mas) 11-9, 2-11, 11-4, 14-16, 11-4; Mohd Asyraf Azan (Mas) bt Ezzri Nazri (Mas) 11-6, 113, 6-11, 11-6; Sanjay Singh Chal (Mas) bt Muhammad Shoaib Hassan (Pak) 11-7, 11-6, 11-4.

WOMEN

First round: Jemyca Aribado (Phi) bt Amirah Rusydina (Mas) 11-8, 11-3, 10-12, 11-9; Ooi Kah Yan (Mas) bt Aira Azman (Mas) 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 17-15; Noor Aina Ampandi (Mas) bt Au Yeong Wai Yhann (Sin) 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10; Aifa Azman (Mas) bt Angie Ooi (Mas) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4; Sunayna Kuruvilla (Ind) bt Ma Si Yi (Mas) 13-11, 7-11, 11-3, 12-10; Lai Wen Li (Mas) bt Noor Shadira Othman (Mas) 11-4, 11-5, 11-2; Jessica Keng (Mas) bt Arezoosadat Mousavizadeh (Iri) 11-8, 11-8, 11-1; Ineta Mackevica (Lat) bt Taba Taghavi Rafsanjani (Iri) 11-1, 11-3, 11-2.

Quarter-finals: Ooi Kah Yan (Mas) bt Jemyca Aribado (Phi) 11-8, 11-6, 11-9; Aifa Azman (Mas) bt Noor Aina Ampandi (Mas) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6; Lai Wen Li (Mas) bt Sunayna Kuruvilla (Ind) 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9; Ineta Mackevica (Lat) bt Jessica Keng (Mas) 11-7, 14-12, 11-6.