Malaysian girls lead the way in British Juniors

Malaysia'a Aifa Azman in action in last year's British Junior Open. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: All five Malaysian Under-15 girls had an opening day to savour as they checked into the last 16 at the British Junior Open squash championships.

With the talented Aifa Azman leading the way, the likes of Nur Aliah Izzati, Chan Yiwen, Lai Wen Li and Ma Si Yi all made a strong impact in Sheffield on Friday.

Yiwen and Wen Li, who both paid their way to compete, had a debut to remember as they toppled higher ranked players in the first two rounds.

The unseeded Yiwen beat American Gabriela Martin in the first round before taking out jointh ninth-16th seed Cheng Nga Ching of Hong Kong, winning 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11. She will take on second seed Rawan Reda of Egypt in the third round.

Unseeded Wen Li and Si Yi defeated joint ninth-16th seeds – Marion Romba of France and Michaela Cepova of the Czech Republic respectively to book their spots.

The 14-year-old Wen Li will meet Egypt’s Hana Moataz in the last 16 while Si Yi will face another Egyptian – fifth-eighth seed Nada Abbas.

The 13-year-old Aifa will be up against Ukraine’s Nadiia Usenko for a place in the quarter-finals while Aliah, who won the Pontefract Junior Open Under-15 title last week, will face Hong Kong’s Lui Hiu Lam.

In the Under-17 category – the quartet of S. Sivasangari, Andrea Lee, Zoe Foo and Nurina Najib all checked into the third round without too much difficulties.

Malaysia will also have two representatives in the third round of the Under-19 category with Teh Min Jie and Aika Azman both clearing their second round matches.

In the boys’ categories, top Malaysian junior Ng Eain Yow is the sole survivor in the Under-17 category after he eased past American Sam Scherl 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 in the second round. He will take on Mexico’s Jorge Luis Dominguez in the third round.

National junior coach Andrew Cross was pleased after most of his charges cleared the opening hurdles with relative ease.

“Good day for the kids as they did what they needed to do. There were a few upsets and the Under-15 girls did well,” said Cross.

“Yiwen played well to beat the Hong Kong player and I’m happy that five of them are through to the last 16 even though they were not given the best seedings.

“As for Eain Yow, he had a good run in the first two rounds yesterday and I’m expecting him to get better although his next opponent is quite solid,” added Cross.