KUALA LUMPUR: It will be a big test for the Malaysian backup squad when the CIMB Malaysian Open squash championships qualifying starts on Tuesday.
But Mohd Addeen Idrakie and Mohd Hannan Tarmidi are both fired up for the challenge.
Addeen, who made the semi-finals of the TC National Championships, losing to Ong Beng Hee, will go up against talented Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Muzayen in the first round.
The 19-year-old Addeen has not beaten Muzayen in three previous meetings but has been playing well recently and should offer a good challenge.
A win will pit him against fellow Malaysians Ivan Yuen or Elvinn Keo for a place in the main draw.
“Muzayen is a really tricky player and he has a wide variety of shots,” said Addeen.
“I’ve never beaten him before but I know how to play against him. It was my fitness in the past that let me down.
“I think it’s a good draw for me ... getting Muzayen is better than getting an Egyptian in the first round and I’m confident of an upset,” added Addeen.
On the other hand, the 18-year-old Hannan enjoyed a fine run in his first Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament – the Maharashstra State Open in Bombay, India.
Hannan exceeded expectations by surviving two qualifying matches to march into main draw. He eventually lost to France’s Johan Bouquet in the first round.
The Seremban lad will face a tougher qualifying match at the Malaysian Open, going up against Egypt’s Mazen Hesham in the first round.
“Mazen won the Maharashstra State Open last week and he is a really good player,” said Hannan.
“But I have nothing to lose and I am ready for the challenge.”
The other Malaysians involved in qualifying will be Sanjay Singh Chal and Mohd Asyraf Azan, who faces each other in the first round, and Valentino Bong who goes up against Hong Kong’s Max Lee.
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