COUNTDOWN TO GOLD COAST COMMONWEALTH GAMES – 16 DAYS TO GO

KUALA LUMPUR: National squash player Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan is peaking nicely in time for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games just two weeks away.

The national No. 1 kept up his redhot form in freezing Canada by storming into the final of the Manitoba Open in Winnipeg on Saturday.

The world No. 42 subdued England’s Charles Sharpe 11-8, 7-11, 11-2, 11-6 in the semi-finals.

Prior to that, the 32-year-old had navigated past Mexican Fernando Magdelano in the first round and Pakistani Shahjahan Khan in the quarter-finals.

The Terengganu-born Nafiizwan’s fine showing means he has now made back-to-back finals on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour in Canada.

He finished runner-up to Spain’s Borja Golan in the Montreal Open earlier this month.

Nafiizwan is eager to nab his first title since the HKFC International in May 2016.

The second seed takes on top seed Campbell Grayson of New Zealand, who downed Australian qualifier Zac Alexander 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 for the title.

“I played well for large parts of the match. I had a good preparation, so I went in there feeling confident and I stuck to my game plan,” said Nafiizwan.

“It’s not the biggest tournament on the Tour but it’s good for me to build up my rhythm and momentum before the Commonwealth Games.

“Right now I’m happy with the way I’m playing and I certainly fancy my chances against Campbell.”

Nafiizwan, the most senior national player, will lead a young squad comprising Ivan Yuen, Ng Eain Yow, Mohd Syafiq Kamal and Sanjay Singh Chal to Gold Coast.