PETALING JAYA: Aira Azman is the sole Malaysian left in the World Junior Squash Championships as the girls’ joint third seed advanced to the quarter-finals in Nancy, France.
It was unfortunate as Aira had to edge compatriot K. Sehveetrraa 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 to secure her place in the last eight.
Aira will meet Egyptian Salma El Tayeb, who defeated teammate Nardine Sameh Garas 11-4, 11-7, 11-2, in the last eight today.
Yee Xin Ying fell in the last 16 when she lost 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 to joint fifth seed Saran Nghiem of England.Malaysia’s campaign in the boys’ events came to an end when Joachim Chuah and C. Ameeshanraj crashed out in the last 16.
Joachim, the joint fifth seed, was gutted after leading 2-1 only to allow England’s joint ninth seed Sam Osborne-Wylde to come from behind to win 11-3, 7-11, 3-11, 11-1, 11-9 and advance to the quarter-finals.
Joachim was looking forward to a fine outing in the tournament but the Asian Junior runner-up was unlucky to lose a close fifth game 11-9. Ameeshanraj found the going tough against top seed Hamza Khan of Pakistan and lost 11-8, 11-6, 11-6.
