PETALING JAYA: A second Asian Games gold medal and an Olympic Games ticket secured, but national squash player Ng Eain Yow only had his mother on his mind.
The 28-year-old became the first men’s squash player to book his spot for 2028 Los Angeles after winning back-to-back Asiad titles on Sunday (Sept 27), defeating India’s Abhay Singh 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.
A flurry of emotions came rushing in for Eain Yow after the victory as he dedicated his historic triumph to his family, particularly his mother Low Soo Goon, who has been ill.
"I know I don’t share a lot of private things. But for the last year and a half, my mom has been unwell," said Eain Yow while fighting through the tears.
"When I think about how tough training can be, no one is tougher than my mom. She’s fighting every day.
"This achievement is for her and my family, for everything we’re going through.
"Sometimes I do feel guilty that I can’t be there to look after her, but I know this is what my family wants for me.
"She’s the strongest person I know in my life, and she continues to inspire me every day."
Eain Yow’s double Asiad crown sees him become only the second Malaysian to win two titles consecutively after Ong Beng Hee's feat in 2002 Busan and 2006 Doha.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is the first continental Games to offer an Olympic qualification slot as Eain Yow secures his name in the 16-player draw in Los Angeles.
Eain Yow’s win also gave Malaysia its fifth gold medal in Japan, before compatriot S. Sivasangari clinched the sixth after she beat India’s Anahat Singh in the women’s individual final.
RESULTS
Men
Final: Ng Eain Yow (Mas) bt Abhay Singh (Ind) 11-9, 11-5, 11-5.
Bronze medal match: Noor Zaman (Pak) bt Ashab Irfan (Pak) 11-7, 11-7, 13-11.
Women
Final: S. Sivasangari (Mas) bt Anahat Singh (Ind) 11-4, 11-4, 11-7.
Bronze medal match: Satomi Watanabe (Jpn) bt Chan Sin Yuk (Hkg) 11-3, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9.
Mixed doubles
Final: Tang Ming Hong-Lee Ka Yi (Hkg) bt Lai Cheuk Nam-Toby Tse (Hkg) 11-8, 11-3.
