Duncan and Kiro serve up stunners in PSA tourney

KUALA LUMPUR: National junior Duncan Lee (pic) battled against the odds to pack off two seeded players to book a quarter-final berth in the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) PSA 1 tournament at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.

The unseeded 17-year-old Sabahan stunned joint ninth-16th seed Mohd Farez Izwan with a 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 win in the first round yesterday.

Hours later, a tireless Duncan shocked seventh seed Nicholas Calvert of Australia in straight sets winning 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 to set up a date with second seed Mohd Syafiq Kamal for a place in the semi-finals.

Duncan, a Form Five student from Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), said it was certainly a day of surprises.

“I just played my normal game but was surprised to beat the more experienced Farez, who has played for Malaysia. I beat him for the first time and it gave me the confidence to play better against Nicholas,” said Duncan.

“I am now looking forward to a good match, and hopefully, upset national player Syafiq.

Syafiq, who received a bye in the first round, had no problems disposing off Hafiz Zhafri 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 in the second round.

In the women’s competition another unseeded player hogged the limelight. Kiro Manoharan, like Duncan, swept aside two seeded players to reach the last eight.

She beat joint ninth-16th seed Yee Xin Ying 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 and ousted fifth seed Sachika Balvani of India 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5 yesterday. Next up for Miro is a meeting with joint ninth-16th seed Amirah Rusydina Rosli.