Lowest finish for Malaysia in 14 years
MALAYSIA are set to finish outside the top-10 of the men’s World Squash Team Championship for the first time in 14 years after a 2-1 defeat to the United States in Marseille yesterday.
Despite national No 1 Nafiizwan Adnan’s battling display, the loss in the ninth-12th playoff tie condemns Malaysia to their lowest finish since 2003 when they placed 14th.
After Addeen Idrakie Bahtiar was beaten 15-13, 11-6, 11-6 by Chris Hanson in the opening match, Nafiizwan rallied to even the tie with an 11-13, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7 win over Todd Harrity.
Nafiizwan scored seven points in a row from 3-6 down to win the fourth game and then reeled off nine successive points after Harrity led 6-0 in the fifth.
In the deciding match, Ng Eain Yow could not capitalise on leads of 7-2 in the second game and 7-3 in the fourth to go down 11-5, 12-10, 6-11, 12-10 to Christopher Gordon.
Malaysia will meet either Germany or Spain in the 11th-12th playoff today.
On Friday, Malaysia overcame Finland 2-1 in a ninth-16th classification tie despite a defeat for Nafiizwan.
Olli Tuominen put Finland ahead with a 6-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-3 win over Nafiizwan before Addeen drew Malaysia level by beating Jami Aijanen 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7.
Eain Yow sealed victory by overcoming Miko Aijanen 11-7, 114, 11-8.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong became the first Asian team to reach the semi-finals since Pakistan in 1995 when they upset hosts France 2-1.
Hong Kong next face top seeds Egypt, who trounced Scotland 30 while defending champions England square off against Australia after beating India (3-0) and New Zealand (2-1). Devinder Singh