A perfect win
Eain Yow bags NT Open title on Mother’s Day
PETALING JAYA: Ng Eain Yow delivered the perfect Mother’s Day gift by winning the US$10,000 (RM43,400) NT Open squash championships in Australia.
And the 19-year-old did it in style, coming from two sets down to score a sensational 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 win over home favourite and world No. 88 Joshua Larkin in the 75-minute final in Darwin yesterday.
World No. 111 Eain Yow, who had beaten Hong Kong’s Lau Tsz Kwan in Saturday’s semi-finals, struggled in the opening two sets and allowed the 27-year-old Larkin to gain control.
But the world junior champion switched up his strategy in the third set and took eight straight points from 3-4 down to give himself a lifeline.
Oozing with confidence, Eain Yow duly went on to claim his second career title.
It was his biggest title in his career following his PSA5 (US$5,000 – RM21,700) title at the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit (SSJM) No. 2 last year.
“I was really struggling physically. I felt really flat in the first two sets. I wasn’t playing the right game as well,” said Eain Yow.
“But my team-mate – Mohd Addeen Idrakie – was there to give me advice. I changed my game plan after the second set. It worked out really well. And I’m really happy with this result. I’ve had a bad start to the year. I was not physically in good shape after a bout of diarrhoea in January.
“To win this title really cleared off some self doubts. Now, I hope to stay focused and keep working hard.
“To win the title on Mother’s Day is also special. My mom (Low Soo Goon) plays a huge role throughout my career and it really feels awesome to win on this day,” added Eain Yow.