Malaysia down South Africa to set up clash with Hong Kong

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian women’s squash team will be out to reclaim their status as the best Asian team when they take on Hong Kong in a crucial World Team Championships tie in Dalian, China.

Fourth seeds Malaysia, led by eight-time world champion Nicol David, cruised to an easy 3-0 win over South Africa in their opening Group D tie yesterday.

Malaysia will take on Hong Kong today with the winner likely to top the group.

Topping the group will make it easier for Malaysia to negotiate the last-eight knockout stage in their bid to reclaim the bragging rights as the top women’s team in Asia.

The Malaysian team were the defending champions in the recent Asiad in Indonesia but were stunned 0-2 by India in the semi-finals last month.

Coach Peter Genever said the bitter outcome from the Asiad outing have motivated the players to prove a point in the world team meet.

Besides Nicol, the other members of the Malaysian team are S. Sivasangari, who won a silver medal in the individual event at the Asiad, Low Wee Wern and Aifa Azman.

“This event is massive for us. Our biggest event was the Asian Games and the women’s team did really well in the individual event with a gold (through Nicol) and a silver.

“But in the team event we only got a bronze – so that has given us the extra motivation to do well here and show that we are better than our performance there.

“Our priority is to try and get through the pool on top and then take it from there. We’ve got a very strong team. Nicol played well in China last week – she’s in good form – and Sivasangari’s playing very well, and Wee Wern and Aifa too,” he said.

Nicol and Wee Wern are the only remaining members of the Malaysian team that finished a remarkable second to eventual champions England in the team championships in Canada in 2014.