Addeen aims to get into top 60 by end of next year

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Addeen Idrakie wants to raise the bar next year after reaching his best ranking position in the Professional Squash Association (PSA).

He has finally entered the top 90 after two years. He is now ranked 84th, three rungs better than his previous best standing in 2018.

He had mixed outings in several Challenger Series tournaments in the United States this year.

He failed to go beyond the quarter-finals in the Squash on Fire, South State Bank Marietta and the Cincinnati Queen but did well to reach the semi-finals of the Boston Open.

In the local scene, he reached the semi-finals of SRAM PSA 6 and final of the SRAM PSA 7 before going down in the first round of the Malaysian Open.

Addeen has a two-pronged approach for next year. He hopes to break into the top 80 in the first half and top 60 in the second half.

“I’ve picked up many pointers from my stints in the US, which I know are needed to improve my game,” he said.

“I tried to apply it during the SRAM PSAs and the home Open tournament and there were some positive results.

“I am progressing, as you can see, through my rankings and hope to make the top 60 by end of next year.

“It’s achievable. With more exposure, I can only become better. I’m optimistic about it,” he said.

But first, Addeen has a chance to wrap up the year on a high note when he competes in the Asian Championships in Islamabad, Pakistan, from Dec 15-19.

He faces Sri Lanka’s Shamil Wakeel in the first round and if he wins, he will play Hong Kong’s Yip Tsz Fung.

“I gave Yip a good fight before losing at the Malaysian Open. Hopefully, I can get my revenge if were to meet him again.”