PETALING JAYA: Pint-sized Aifa Azman shot into the limelight in January when she produced a massive performance to win the Under-13 title at the British Junior Open squash championships.
She was only the fifth Malaysian girl to win a British Junior Open title after Nicol David, Tan Yan Xin, Low Wee Wern and S. Sivasangari.
Now, Aifa is on course for another breakthrough at the Asian Junior Championship. She stayed on course for her first title in the championships after sweeping into the Under-13 semi-finals in Kish Island, Iran, on Tuesday.
The talented Aifa needed only 11 minutes to demolish India’s Ananya Dabke 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 in the quarter-finals.
It was a double joy for Malaysia as Amirah Rusydina Rosli came up tops against India’s J.S. Krithica, winning 9-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 to set up a semi-final clash with Aifa.
“It was not too tough in the quarter-finals. I played well, but I think it will be tougher in the semi-finals against Amirah,” said Aifa.
“She lost to me in the Malaysian Junior Open final this month and I am sure she wants to beat me this time,” she added.
In the girls’ Under-15 category, top seed Nur Aliah Izzati stayed on course for her second Asian junior title by beating Iran’s Ailee Nayeri 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 in the quarter-finals.
The Penang lass, who won the Under-13 title in Kish Island two years ago, will take on Hong Kong’s Tang Yan Yi in the last four.
Seventh seed Lai Wen Li, however, crashed out after losing 9-11, 9-11, 4-11 to third seed Cheng Nga Ching of Hong Kong.
In the boys’ Under-17 category, top seed Ng Eain Yow eliminated Iran’s Alireza Shameli 11-8, 11-3, 11-3 to set up a semi-final clash with third seed Ng Ka Yiu of Hong Kong.
The sixth seeded Ka Yiu downed third seed Malaysian Mohd Farez Izwan 11-6, 11-9, 12-10.
Three other Malaysian boys – Shawn Tai (Under-13), Jesse Foo and Eugene Heng (Under-15) – also checked into the last four.
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