Best friends to cross paths in boys’ Under-17 final

PETALING JAYA: Best friends S. Kiven from Kedah and Ishant Shah Atul Kumar from Penang will square off in the boys’ Under-17 final at the REDtone Kuala Lumpur Junior Open squash championships at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.

The two will put their friendship aside for the time being to salvage some pride for their respective states today.

Kiven outplayed South African Reuel Videler 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 while Ishant stopped pint-sized Mohamed Zakaria Abdel Hammed Omar from Egypt 11-4, 11-3, 11-7 in their respective semi-finals yesterday.

“Ishant and I are best buddies outside of the court.

“But tomorrow (today) we will slug it out to see who will emerge as champions.

“We’ll certainly give our utmost best," said Kiven.

In the boys' Under-19, Sabah's Duncan Lee continued his great run of form to beat his national junior teammate and training partner Amir Amirul Azhar of Kelantan 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 in a gruelling semi-final match.

He plays national top junior player Siow Yee Xian from Malacca in today’s final.

Yee Xian came from behind to snatch a 9-11, 11-7, 11-0, 11-8 victory over India's R. Rutvik in the semi-final.