an ace up her sleeve – Patience helps Thanusaa pip Zhi Xuan to title
FINAL RESULTS
MEN
Au Lap Man (Hkg) bt Muhammad Fathan Azzikri (Ina) 11-4, 11-3, 11-2.
WOMEN
U. Thanusaa bt Goh Zhi Xuan 11-4, 11-8, 12-10.
PETALING JAYA: Patience paid off for national squash player U. Thanusaa as she managed to overpower Goh Zhi Xuan to take the ACE Professional Squash Association (PSA) WSF Satellite #1 title yesterday.
Facing off in the finals at Seremban, 19-year-old Thanusaa took her first ACE Satellite title after winning 11-4, 11-8, 12-10 against world No. 166 Zhi Xuan.
Ranked 200th, Thanusaa said it was the first time she had won against Zhi Xuan in the finals of a tournament.
“I have been trying for a while now. Last year I played her a few times in the finals but I lost.
“I just had to be patient during the match because I know the technique she uses when she plays.
“So to get my first ACE Satellite tournament title after winning against her makes me very happy,” said the Melaka-born player, who bagged the National Junior Championships girls’ Under-19 title last week.
In the men’s category, Hong Kong’s Au Lap Man emerged victorious against Indonesia’s Mohd Fathan Azzikri, winning the final 11-4, 11-3, 11-2 yesterday.
The 20-year-old player, who caused an upset at the Hong Kong Challenge Cup in January by beating world No. 181 Harley Lam, continued working his way up the
ranks by winning his first PSA tournament.
The 483rd seed player said he was filled with emotion right after winning the title and can’t help but pat himself on the back.
“Right after the match, I was so excited and happy. I felt so proud of myself. Now I just feel relieved that it’s all over and I have won.
“I just maintained the same routine I’ve been following for the past few days. I come in, warm up, and stay focused on myself.
“My strategy in the final was to just put more pressure on my opponent. I wasn’t just trying to win but also find ways for me to play better,” he said.