Malaysia bank on home ground advantage
THE recent good form of the national players, coupled with home ground advantage, should see them advancing deep into the business end of the Asian Individual Squash Championships, which starts tomorrow, in Bukit Jalil.
While repeating the double victory achieved through Nicol David and Nafiizwan Adnan in 2011, when Malaysia last hosted the meet, will be a tall order, a surprise win in either the men or women’s category is not impossible.
Low Wee Wern’s recent run to the Macau Open final proves that she is regaining her confidence following an injury.
Having skipped the El Gouna International Open in Egypt last week, Wee Wern will be well rested and eager to impress in her first appearance at the Asian meet since 2013 when she lost to Hong Kong’s Annie Au in the final.
S. Sivasangari, who early this year moved to the United States to play collegiate squash, is also in good form. She won in St Louis (Racquet Club Pro Series) recently.
On the men’s side, Ng Eain Yow, who recently overtook Nafiizwan as the national No 1, has been maturing well on the tour.
Now 33, this could be Nafiizwan’s last appearance at the Asian meet and while his recent form is nothing to shout about, his experience could push him to achieve a memorable outing.
The same can also be said of Ivan Yuen’s chances.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) director of coaching Major (Rtd) S. Maniam said he would be happy with semi-final appearances.
“These two girls (Sivasangari and Wee Wern) are our hope in the women’s competition,” said Maniam.
“On the men’s side, it is a crowded field with players like Leo Au, Yip Tsz Fung and Max Lee (Hong Kong), Saurav Ghosal (India) and Abdullah Mohammad Al Tamimi (Qatar) in the mix.
“Nafiizwan, Ivan and Eain Yow are our frontrunners in the men’s event and again I would be very happy with reaching the semifinals.”
In the 2017 India edition, Malaysia failed to go beyond the second round of the women’s competition which was won by India’s Joshna Chinappa.
The men’s event witnessed Ivan facing off with Nafiizwan in the quarter-finals with the latter going through. Nafiizwan, however, lost to eventual winner Max in the semi-finals.