Malaysia's Low Wee Wern returns as shot against Sarah-Jane Perry of England in the women's second round of the CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championship on Wednesday. - M. Azhar Arif/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: It was upsets galore in the women’s second round of the CIMB Malaysian Open squash tournament.
World champion Laura Massaro of England was the biggest casualty at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Massaro, who tasted success in Malaysia with triumphs at last year’s KL Open and the World Championships in Penang in March, surprisingly went down 7-11, 4-11, 11-6, 4-11 to Egypt’s world No. 25 Nour El Tayeb.
“I told myself that although Laura is the world No. 2 and world champion, she’s just another player. I knew I had it in me to win,” said the 21-year-old Nour.
“I’m very excited and delighted to win as beating someone like Laura is not a regular thing,” added the 2011 world junior champion.
Nour’s quarter-final opponent is Ireland’s Madeline Perry.
Perry won the battle of the 37-year-olds, beating Rachael Grinham of Australia 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9.
England also lost another seeded player as 11th seed Jenny Duncalf went down to world junior champion Habiba Mohamed. The 15-year-old Egyptian, who stunned fourth seed Camille Serme of France in the first round, won 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7.
Two Malaysians – Low Wee Wern and Delia Arnold – failed to clear the second round. Wee Wern was beaten 3-11, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11 by England’s Sarah-Jane Perry while Delia lost 12-14, 9-11, 3-11 to American 10th seed Amanda Sobhy.
World No. 1 Nicol David, however, kept the home hopes alive with an emphatic 11-4, 11-3, 11-8 win over India’s Joshna Chinappa.
Nicol, who is gunning for her ninth Malaysian Open title, will next meet Hong Kong’s Annie Au.
“Joshna played quite well in the first set, but I managed to find my rhythm to put the pressure on her,” said Nicol.
“I’m happy to win 3-0 and I’m definitely looking forward to playing in the quarter-finals (at Nu Sentral).”
In the men’s event, two-time winner Ong Beng Hee was sent packing 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 10-12 by Indian qualifier Mahesh Mangaokar in 93 minutes.
National No. 2 Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan, however, made it to the second round after former world No. 10 Mohd Azlan Iskandar retired. Nafiizwan was leading 8-11, 12-10, 11-5 when compatriot Azlan withdrew from the match.
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