Marcus finally gets past first round of PSA Tour meet at ninth attempt

Breakthrough: Marcus Sim will take on top seed Wong Chi Him of Hong Kong in the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit No. 1 today.

PETALING JAYA: Marcus Sim has every reason to feel positive.

The 19-year-old Sarawakian finally got past the first round of a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour tournament after biting the dust early in eight attempts last year.

And Marcus, who came through the qualifiers, did it in style by beating eighth seed Syed Azlan Amjad of Qatar to reach the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit (SSJM) No. 1 at the Seri Menanti Golf and Country Club in Seremban yesterday.

World No. 289 Marcus won 11-8, 11-2, 11-8 to set up a meeting with top seed Wong Chi Him of Hong Kong, who defeated national junior Darren Rahul Pragasam 11-2, 11-2, 9-11, 12-10.

“I played pretty well. I was much more consistent than in previous tournaments,” said Marcus.

“This is my first time ever, getting past the first round of a PSA tournament. I’m excited.

“I’m enjoying the game much more now, but I’m also focused on winning matches. I’ll give my best against Chi Him and, hopefully, the results go my way.”

Fourth seed Mohd Addeen Idrakie also made the last eight after beating training partner Sanjay Singh Chal 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8 in 45 minutes.

It was sweet revenge for Addeen who lost to Sanjay in the final of the 2015 Singapore SEA Games in their last meeting.

World No. 124 Addeen next takes on Hong Kong’s world No. 238 Henry Leung, who stunned fifth seeded compatriot Tang Ming Hong 11-4, 11-7, 3-11, 11-8, for a place in the semi-finals.

The other two Malaysians - Ryan Pasqual and Mohd Hannan Tarmidi – failed to clear the first round after losing to Hong Kong opponents.

In the women’s event, national junior Chan Yiwen turned the tables on sixth seeded compatriot Aika Azman with a 4-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7 win.

The 16-year-old Yiwen will play third seed Vanessa Chu of Hong Kong in the quarter-finals.

Three other Malaysians - Teh Min Jie, Andrea Lee and Nazihah Hanis – also booked their spots in the last eight.