PETALING JAYA: Malaysia settled for double silver finishes as the boys’ and girls’ squash teams fell short in the final of the Asian Junior Team Championships in Hong Kong on Sunday (Feb 16).
The boys put up a fight against South Korea but eventually fell 0-2 as Harith Danial Jefri lost the opening fixture to Na Joo-yoong 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 2-11.
Asian Junior Champion M. Nickhileswar was up next to salvage a point for Malaysia, but he was unable to beat Ryu Jeong-guk as he lost 11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 9-11, 7-11.
The win has also given South Korea their first championship title in the boys’ category.
Meanwhile for the girls’ team, Malaysia failed to defend their title as they lost to hosts Hong Kong 0-2.
Anrie Goh was up first, but Hong Kong’s Ena Kwong made quick work of her as Anrie lost 3-11, 7-11, 6-11 in 28 minutes.
The pressure was then on Harleein Tan to keep the hopes of getting a fifth consecutive title alive, but she could not get past Cheung Tsz Ching as she lost 11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 5-11.
Hong Kong captured their fourth title, after winning their last championship at the 2011 edition in Sir Lanka.
