EAIN YOW WARY OF WHAT’S AHEAD
Malaysia’s No 1 wants to focus on one match at a time
NG Eain Yow is being careful not to get ahead of himself in the runup to the Asian Individual Championships at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil on May 1-5.
Eain Yow, who recently overtook Nafiizwan Adnan as the national
No 1, will spearhead the nation’s charge in the men’s competition.
The World No 37, Nafiizwan and Ivan Yuen are seeded joint fifth-eighth, and the trio have been handed first round byes.
Eain Yow, who is in the top half of the draw, will likely face defending champion Max Lee of Hong Kong in the quarterfinals.
“Being in the top half definitely feels a little bit tougher than the bottom. Playing Max, if I get to the quarters, will be a good match,” said the 21-year-old.
“But having said that, it (draw) does not really make that much of a difference because everyone is good.
“I think I am playing well at the moment and feel confident but I am keeping myself grounded. I don’t want to get too far ahead and say that I am targeting to win the event.
“That would put unnecessary pressure. I just want to focus on winning one match at a time and play some good squash.”
Eain Yow was a last 16 casualty in the 2017 edition in Chennai.
He, however, has shown some strong performances of late and did well to reach the quarterfinals of the Macau Open earlier this month where he defeated Nafiizwan in five sets in the second round.
The last time Malaysia hosted the Asian Individual Championships was in 2011 when Nafiizwan, who is now 33, won the men’s title while Nicol David took the women’s event.
Nicol, who will retire at the end of the season, is not playing in the competition this time.
In her absence, Low Wee Wern, who reached the Macau Open final recently, will lead Malaysia’s charge in the women’s competition together with S. Sivasangari.
Wee Wern is seeded joint thirdfourth while Sivsangari is joint fifth-eighth.