Sanjay overcomes best friend Duncan, and Ainaa makes it a double

Quick action: Sanjay Jeeva (front) in action against Duncan Lee during the men’s singles final. — GLENN GUAN/The Star

BANGKOK: Sanjay Jeeva and Duncan Lee are the best of buddies. They have even been sharing a hotel room for the past week and hanging out together.

On the squash court, though, it is a different story. Then, they go at each other with a vengeance.

And vengeance is what top seed Sanjay got when he came from a set down to beat the second-seeded Duncan 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 to take the SEA Games men’s singles gold yesterday.

It was sweet revenge after Duncan had upset Sanjay for the National Championships title in Penang in August.

“I lost to Duncan recently and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” said Sanjay, 26.

“But I knew Malaysia already had the gold with both of us in the final, so I just told myself to relax and stick to my game plan.

“I knew that if I played good squash the results would come,” Sanjay said after winning in 52 minutes.

However, Sanjay said it was a tough mental fight.

“We’re both close, we train together, so it was a mental battle for the both of us,” he said.

Malaysia swept all four gold medals, with Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi clinching the women’s singles gold in another all-Malaysian final.

The world No. 59 and top seed got the better of compatriot and second seed, world No. 65 Yee Xin Ying, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4 in 35 minutes at the Vajiravudh College in Dusit.

Ainaa said the journey wasn’t all smooth as she had to battle injuries.

“I was injured during the Asian Championships in Sarawak in June,” said the 23-year-old Ainaa.

“Things were on and off for me after that. But coming here and winning was emotional for me. Having my mum and brother here was even more special for me.”

The national squash camp’s two other gold medals came courtesy of Harith Danial Jefri and K. Sehveetrraa in the mixed jumbo doubles, as well as Harith and Low Wa Sern’s win in the men’s jumbo doubles on Wednesday.