The ‘great opportunist’
FOR someone who wasn’t even supposed to feature in the ongoing Malaysian Open squash championships, Aira Azman is certainly going great guns.
The 14-year-old, who was only allowed to compete by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) following several withdrawals, is through to the quarterfinals after ousting fifth seed Lee Ka Yi of Hong Kong at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil.
Aira, who turns 15 on Sunday, showed calmness beyond her tender years as she bounced back from an opening game loss to complete a 13-15, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 win over world No. 51 Ka Yi.
It’s her second big upset, having packed off world No 71 Tessa ter Sluis of Holland in the first round on Wednesday.
“It’s really an unexpected outcome for me. I wasn’t even supposed to play in this tournament, but I got a late call-up,” said Aira, who is not even ranked on the PSA Tour.
“Today, I was really just trying to play my best against a senior player. I know that if I want to progress, I’ll just have to go all out.
“I’m really delighted to make it to the quarter-finals. And it’s double the joy since I’l turn 15 in three days’ time.”
The Kedahan will meet fourth seed Vanessa Chu of Hong Kong in the last eight after the World No 49 convincingly beat Lai Wen Li 11-9, 11-5, 11-7.
Defending champion and second seed Low Wee Wern also got off to a winning start, using all her experience to beat Aifa Azman 11-6, 11-6, 12-10.
World No 34 Wee Wern will meet seventh seed Menna Hamed, who downed Chan Yiwen 14-12, 11-6, 12-10, in the quarter-finals.
Also through to the last eight is Ooi Kah Yan, who came from two games down and saved two match points — in the third and fourth games — to claim an 8-11, 10-12, 14-12, 12-10, 12-10 win over sixth seed Anna Serme of the Czech Republic.
“I couldn’t execute my game plan in the first two games but I managed to focus and come back stronger. Anna is ranked higher than me, so this is a good win,” said Kah Yan.
The Seremban-born will now face third seed Rachel Arnold, who trounced India’s Tanvi Khanna 11-6, 11-4, 11-6.
In men’s competition, fourth seed Ng Eain Yow and fifth seed Ivan Yuen also marched into the last eight.
World No 37 Eain Yow was hardly tested as he whipped Hong Kong’s Henry Leung 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 to set up a last-eight clash against Pakistan’s Tayyab Aslam.
World No 46 Ivan also had it easy, seeing off surprise package Ong Sai Hung 11-3, 11-7, 11-2.
The national champion faces a tough task next as he will be up against second seed Nicolas Mueller of Switzerland.