PETALING JAYA: Hangzhou Asian Games-bound Aira Azman signed off from the Asian Junior Championships in style by winning the women's Under-19 title at Xiqang Hall in Dalian, China.
Aira made a strong comeback after losing the first game to take down fellow Malaysian Sehveetrraa Kumar 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-1 on Sunday (Aug 20).
It is the sixth championship title for Aira, who will not be eligible next year.
Aira had won the girls' Under-13 in 2016 and 2017 and had also completed a double in the Under-15 in 2018 and 2019.
She won the Under-19 crown for the first time when the Asian Juniors made a return in Pattaya last year after two years of absence due to Covid-19.
Aira is pleased to end her junior career on a winning note to make it double joy for the Malaysian squash team heading to Asian Games.
"I am extremely pleased with my performance throughout this championship. It was certainly not easy for me as the defending champion. I faced a lot of pressure to retain this championship but I am glad to handle the situation well," said Aira, who also won her first national crown recently.
It was a grand day for Malaysia in the Asian Juniors as they also bagged four other titles.
Joachim Chuah, competing in the boys' Under-19 category, redeemed last year's disappointment by overcoming his compatriot Harith Danial Jefri 11-9, 7-11, 10-13, 11-6, 13-11.
In the boys' Under17 category, Low Wa Sern rose to the occasion to beat defending champion South Korean Na Joo-young 11-6, 11-9, 5-11, 13-11.
This victory avenged Wa Sern's disappointment from the previous edition in Pattaya where he lost to Joo-young in the final match.
Two more titles came from Jayden Oon (boys' Under-15 category) and Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan (girls' Under-13).
