Syafiq-Duncan sweat for semis spot in battle with compatriots

PETALING JAYA: National squash players Syafiq Kamal-Duncan Lee had to go the distance but booked their spot in the Asian Doubles Cham­pion­ships semi-finals in Kuching yesterday.

The spot in the last four came at the cost of sending compatriots C. Ameeshenraj-Sanjay Jeeva packing in the quarter-final as third seed Syafiq-Duncan won 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 in an hour and six minutes at the Sarawak Squash Centre in Petra Jaya.

The only remaining Malaysian pair in the draw, Syafiq-Duncan will now take on Pakistan’s Noor Zaman-Nasir Iqbal in the semi-finals today.

In the women’s doubles, Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi-Yee Xin Ying kept the country’s hopes alive as the sole representatives by entering the semi-finals.

The top seed pair took just 28 minutes to win 11-7, 11-8 against India’s Pooja Raghu-Rathika Seelan in the quarter-finals.

The Malaysians will now face either Hong Kong’s Ho Tze Lok-Fung Ching Hei, or South Korea’s Eum Hwa-yeong-Heo Ming-yeong in the semi-final today.

In the mixed doubles, Joachim Chuah-Aira Azman defeated compatriots Harith Danial-Nathalie Sim 11-10, 11-8 in 21 minutes to enter the quarter-finals, where they will meet India’s Joshna Chinappa-S. Velavan.

Receiving a bye into the quarter-finals, Ainaa-Syafiq will be meeting Hong Kong’s Tong Tsz Wing-Tang Ming Hong today, while Ameeshenraj-Rachel Arnold face another Hong Kong pair in Lee Ka Yi-Wong Chi Him.

RESULTS

Malaysians unless stated

Quarter-finals

Men’s doubles: Syafiq Kamal-Duncan Lee bt C. Ameeshenraj-Sanjay Jeeva 11-6, 7-11, 11-4; Abhay Singh-S. Velavan (Ind) bt Lee Min-woo-Na-Joo-young (Kor) 10-11, 11-3, 11-5; Wong Chi Him-Tang Ming Hong (Hkg) bt Lai Cheuk Nam-To Wai Lok (Hkg) 11-7, 11-6; Noor Zaman-Nasir Iqbal (Pak) bt Yoo Jae-jin-Ryu Jeong-min (Kor) 11-3, 5-11, 11-4.

Women’s doubles: Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi-Yee Xin Ying bt Pooja Raghu-Rathika Seelan (Ind) 11-7, 11-8; Joshana Chinappa-Anahat Singh (Ind) bt Jemyca Aribado-Yvonne Dalida (Phi) 11-6, 11-3.

SECOND ROUND

Mixed doubles: Joachim Chuah-Aira Azman bt Harith Danial-Nathalie Sim 11-10, 11-8; Lee Ka Yi-Wong Chi Him (Hkg) bt Heo Ming-yeong-Yoo Jae-jin (Kor) 6-11, 11-3, 11-3.