Xin Ying shows her mettle by edging Habiba to reach final

PETALING JAYA: Rising squash player Yee Xin Ying (pic) has booked her spot in the final of the 6K Ace Challenger after an eight-month hiatus.

Xin Ying, who last competed in a professional tournament at the Burnt Squash Open in United States in October, showed she is back in business by upstaging second seed Habiba Hani of Egypt 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 in the semi-finals.

The eighth seed has set an all-Malaysian final against third seed K. Sehveetrraa in Kemaman, Terengganu, today.

Sehveetrraa charged into the final after defeating fifth seed Egyptian Malak Fathy 11-2, 14-12, 11-5 in another semi-final match.

The 20-year-old from Sandakan, who had to take the break due to an injury, is happy to exact revenge against Habiba. The Egyptian beat her at PSNS President’s Trophy last year.

“I prepared well for the semi-final match because I’ve lost to her last year, so I’m very happy with my performance to win the game in four sets,” said Xin Ying.

“I struggled to find my game in the first set, but found my rhythm from the second set onwards.

Earlier, in the quarter-finals, she knocked out fourth seed Nour Kahafagy of Egypt 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 on Friday.

Grateful to be back competing, Xin Ying will be looking to seal her return to the professional scene with a win but will have to get past teammate Sehveetrraa, who is in search of her third title this season.

The last time both Malaysians met in a tournament was back in 2022 when Xin Ying won at the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy.

Meanwhile, the men’s top seed Syafiq Kamal also made it to the final as he beat third seed Ravindu Laksiri of Sri Lanka 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 yesterday.

Syafiq will now take on fourth seed Yassin Shohdy in the final after the Egyptian defeated Malaysia’s Duncan Lee 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 in the semi-finals.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Men: Syafiq Kamal (Mas) bt Ravindu Laksiri (Srl) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8; Yassin Shohdy (Egy) bt Duncan Lee (Mas) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.

Women: K. Sehveetrraa (Mas) bt Malak Fathy (Egy) 11-2, 14-12, 11-5; Yee Xin Ying (Mas) bt Habiba Hani (Egy) 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.