Zhi Xuan hopes to go all the way in Seremban

PETALING JAYA: Squash player Goh Zhixuanishopingtogoallthewayin the ACE Professional Squash Association (PSA) WSF Satellite #1 tournament after suffering a minor hiccup last week.

Last week, she lost to Chen Yu Jie in the semi-finals of the National Junior Championships.

In the PSA tournament starting today in Seremban, the world No. 166 Zhi Xuan wants to reach the final but knows it will not be a walk in the park.

A total of 54 players, even from Japan, Egypt, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Indonesia, India, and Belgium, have confirmed their participation in the men and women’s categories.

Although Zhi Xuan enters the tournament as the top seed, she will face stiff competition from the likes of second seed Jessica Keng, Yu Jie, and Wong Po Yui of Hong Kong.

“My opponents are experienced players with good skills and the matches will not be easy. My on-court mentality is important when I face them,” said Zhi Xuan.

“The international players are older than me, but playing in challenger tournaments has given me some confidence and the experience of using different game plans and styles,” said the 18-year-old.

Zhi Xuan will start her campaign against Hong Kong’s Mariko Tam.

Another Malaysian, Whitney Isabelle Wilson, 15, had received a first round bye and will take on either Belgium’s Dahlia Cherian or Hong Kong’s Lam Po Ying in the second.

Meanwhile, in the men’s category, all eyes will be on top seed and 20-year-old Amir Amirul Azhar, who is trying to replicate his first PSA title won at the WSF Satellite tournament in Penang, December last year.

His main challengers will be Yuta Ando of Japan, Muhammad Fathan Azzikri of Indonesia, and Egypt’s Omar Tawfik.