POSITIVE VIBES
Maniam believes junior players are on the right track following encouraging results at Asian Meet
THE up-and-coming players will have to step up when former World No 1 Nicol David retires next month.
Things are, however, looking positive going by the results of the players in the Asian Individual Championships in Bukit Jalil.
Ng Eain Yow did well to dump defending champion Max Lee of Hong Kong out of the tournament in the men’s quarter-finals before the 21-year-old’s campaign was halted by top seed Saurav Ghosal of India in the semi-finals.
S. Sivasangari, 20, also shone in the tournament by showing third seed Joey Chan of Hong Kong the door in the quarter-final stage before losing to defending champion Joshna Chinappa of India in the last four.
Despite playing with a calf strain, Low Wee Wern, 28, showed her trademark tenacity to come back from two sets down and defeat an in-form Satomi Watanabe of Japan in the quarterfinals.
However, she lost to Hong Kong’s top seed Annie Au in four sets in the next stage.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) director of coaching Major (Rtd) S. Maniam believes that both Sivasangari and Eain Yow have the potential to win the Asian title in the future.
“Overall, it was an okay performance from our players. However, I was hoping
to see one of them in the men or women’s final, but that would have required them to beat higher-ranked players,” said Maniam.
“Our young players are on the right track. I think in a few years we can be rest assured that they will feature in the final and maybe even win the title.
“I was also happy with Wee Wern’s performance as she came close to upsetting Annie. Aifa also showed improvement, she took Sivasangari by surprise and won a set against her.
“We are hoping that younger players like Aina Ampandi, Chan Yiwen, Lai Wen Li, Aira Azman, Addeen Idrakie and Syafiq Kamal will be able to further develop and perhaps catch up with the likes of Eain Yow.
“Some showed great mettle in the early rounds here.”
The next major assignment for the senior players is the British Open in Hull on May 20-26.
Meanwhile, India won a sweet double in the Asian meet yesterday through Saurav and Joshna, who both defeated opponents from Hong Kong to win the men and women’s titles.
Saurav overcame Hong Kong’s Leo Au 11-9, 11-2, 11-8 while Joshna defeated Annie 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6.