Rachel on course for Asian crown
KUALA LUMPUR: Top seed Rachel Arnold marched into the Asian Squash Championships quarter-finals in Kuching today.
The Malaysian, seeking her first Asian title, beat Japan's Risa Sugimoto 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 in the second round at the Sarawak Squash Centre.
Rachel, 29, who finished second in 2021 in Pakistan, will face Hong Kong's
Tong Tsz Wing next. Fifth seed Tsz Wing beat Singapore's Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-4, 11-6, 11-7.
Malaysia's Aifa Azman beat Hong Kong's ninth seed Chan Sin Yuk 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 to set up a quarter-final date with HongKonger, Lee Ka Yi.
Aifa's younger sister and second seed, Aira, beat South Korean Ryoo Bo Ram 11-1, 11-3, 11-4 in the second round. She will next face compatriot Yee Xin Ying, who beat Japan's Erisa Sano 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7.
However, Malaysian surprise package, Whitney Isabelle Wilson's fine run came to an end in the second round after an 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 loss to third seed Ho Tze Lok of Hong Kong.
Tze Lok, who subdued Japan's ninth seed Akari Midorikawa 11-3, 11-3, 11-6, will play Malaysian Ainaa Amani Ampandi in the quarter-finals.
In the men's category, Malaysia's world No. 86 C. Ameeshenraj will battle Qatar's top seed and world No. 23 Abdulla Al Tamimi in the quarter-finals. Al Tamimi beat South Korean Na Joo Young 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5 while Ameeshenraj ousted India's Suraj Chand 5-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3.
Malaysian Joachim Chuah also progressed to the quarter-finals to meet India's Velavan Senthilkumar after beating Pakistan's Noor Zaman 11-3, 11-3, 3-11, 10-12, 11-2. Velavan defeated Japan's Endo Tomotaka 11-3, 11-1, 11-4.
Second seed Lau Tsz Kwan of Hong Kong beat Malaysia's Duncan Lee 11-8, 4-11, 13-11, 11-1. Malaysia's fifth seed Sanjay Jeeva was upset 11-8, 3-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 by Hong Kong's ninth seed Wong Chi Him.
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