Ivan can’t wait for action in bid to move up the rankings
KUALA LUMPUR: National squash player Ivan Yuen (pic) aims to hit the ground running in his first assignment next year at the World Championships in Chicago in February.
He wants a strong finish to break into the top-30 position in the world.
The 28-year-old has ended the season at 46th spot after enjoying a good run.
“My highest was 40 (before a three-month break due to breathing problems), so I’m slowly getting back there and I want to push harder up the rankings,” said Ivan.
Ivan was sidelined for three months from November last year due to a chest pain and returned to the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tour in March.
“I want to be a top player. It’s tough but not impossible as it depends on many factors such as training styles and adapting to different conditions,” he said.
“My aim now is the World Championships. I’ve played in several big tournaments for many years now so I know what to expect.”
Ivan summed up 2018 as a good year for him.
He marked his return with his first PSA title in 13 months when he won the New Zealand Southern Open in June.
The other titles won were the New Zealand International Classic (June), National Championships (July) and DHA Cup International in Pakistan (November).
But the highlight was definitely when he helped the team win the Asian Games team gold with Nafiizwan Adnan, Ng Eain Yow and Mohd Syafiq Kamal in Indonesia in August.
“It has been a good year for me as I came back from my health problems. To have a few wins under my belt throughout the year is good,” said Ivan, who also reached the final at the Faletti’s Hotel International and the FMC International.
“They are small titles but it’s good to get back the confidence of winning matches,” he added.