Azman sisters cruise into Bermuda Open quarters

PETALING JAYA: The Azman sisters Aira and Aifa are through to the quarter-finals of the Bermuda Open in Devonshire.
Top seed Aira, who was given a first round bye, routed Colombia's world No. 146 Laura Tovar 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 in the second round on Wednesday.

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The Star

3 days ago

• The Star

Aira crashes out but sister Aifa reaches semis in style at Asian meet

PETALING JAYA: It was a day of contrasting fortunes for the Azman siblings Aira and Aifa in the Asian Championships. Second seed Aira was shocked by teammate and sixth seed Yee Xin Ying when the latter made it to the semi-finals after scoring a sensational 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8 upset win at the Sarawak Squash Centre in Kuching on Thursday (June 19). Xin Ying will face Hong Kong's Ho Tze Lok, who ended the run of Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi with a 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 win. Aifa, however, was in her element when she dumped third-fourth seed Lee Ka Yi of Hong Kong 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 in the quarter-finals. Aifa will face top seed Rachel Arnold, who fought hard to beat Hong Kong's Tong Tsz Wing 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 in another last eight match. It was sweet revenge for Rachel, who came close to becoming Asian champion in 2021 but was denied by Tsz Wing in the final in Pakistan. Said Rachel: "I'm feeling confident, but I still have to stay sharp in order to win the championship." "I got close to winning in 2021, so I'm really hoping to redeem it this time," she said. Malaysia's campaign in the men's department came to an end yesterday after both Joachim Chuah and C. Ameeshenraj lost their quarter-final matches. QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS (Malaysians unless stated) Men: S. Velavan (Ind) bt Joachin Chuah 11-7, 11-6, 11-6; Abdulla Al-Tamimi (Qat) bt C. Ameeshenraj 11-7, 11-9, 11-3; Lau Tsz Kwan (Hkg) bt Wong Chi Him (Hkg) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6; Henry Leung (Hkg) bt Nasri Iqbal (Pak) 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7. Women: Rachel Arnold bt Tong Tsz Wing (Hkg) 11-8, 11-8, 11-8; Aifa Azman bt Lee Ka Yi (Hkg) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4; Yee Xin Ying bt Aira Azman 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8; Ho Tze Lok (Hkg) bt Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5.

New Straits Times

3 days ago

• New Straits Times

Xin Ying springs sensational win in Asian Championships

KUCHING: Malaysian fifth seed Yee Xin Ying sprang a sensational upset at the Asian Championships, knocking out second seed and compatriot Aira Azman at the Sarawak Squash Centre today. World No.59 Xin Ying fended off a fightback from world No.27 Aira to record a sensational 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8 win to advance to the semifinals against third seed Ho Tze Lok of Hong Kong. Tze Lok subdued Malaysia's Ainaa Amani Ampandi 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 in the last eight. A jubilant Xin Ying said she kept composed against the higher ranked Aira. "I stuck to my game plan against Aira. I beat her in five sets at the last Malaysia Games." On her semi-final match, she said: "I have not played Tze Lok before. She won in five sets against Ainaa. I will stick to playing point by point instead of thinking too much. She's older and very experienced, she's been on the tour, so I think she'll be comfortable playing four and five sets," said the 21-year-old. Top seed Rachel Arnold continued her march, brushing aside Tong Tsz Wing of Hong Kong 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 for a spot in the semi-finals. World No.19 Rachel will next take on compatriot and fifth seed Aifa Azman. Joint-fifth seed Aifa marched into the semi-final after beating Hong Kong player Lee Ka Yi 11-5, 11-7, 11-4. In the men's category, the Malaysian challenge came to an end with the defeat of the country's two wall bashers in the quarter-final stage. World No. 86 C. Ameeshenraj bowed out 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 to top seed Abdulla Al Tamimi of Qatar, while Joachim Chuah lost 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 to India's third seed Velavan Senthilkumar.

New Straits Times

6 days ago

• New Straits Times

Fever ends Eain Yow's hat-trick bid at Asian Championships

KUALA LUMPUR: Ng Eain Yow's bid for a third consecutive men's title at the Asian Championships has come to an abrupt end after the world No. 13 withdrew from the tournament in Kuching due to fever. The 27-year-old had clinched the title in 2021 (Islamabad) and 2023 (Hong Kong) and was aiming to complete a hat-trick as the top seed in the tournament, which begins on Tuesday. Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director Andrew Cross confirmed the withdrawal, which deals a major blow to Malaysia's title hopes — especially with world No. 8 S. Sivasangari also skipping the tournament after qualifying for the season-ending PSA World Tour Finals. With Eain Yow out, Qatar's world No. 22 Abdullah Al-Tamimi is now the top seed in the men's event, followed by Hong Kong's world No. 41 Lau Tsz Kwan. Malaysia's hopes rest on national No. 2 and world No. 74 Sanjay Jeeva, who has shown promise with semi-final runs at the Wealth Open and McMillan Goodfellow Classic. Also in the men's draw are Duncan Lee, Harith Danial, Joachim Chuah, Low Wa Sern and C. Ameeshenraj. In the women's event, Malaysia's chances look brighter, with world No. 19 Rachel Arnold leading the charge as top seed. Rachel, winner of the China Open in February, is aiming to go one better than her runner-up finish in Islamabad in 2021. Second seed and world No. 26 Aira Azman could set up an all-Malaysian final, provided both players avoid upsets. Also flying the flag in the women's draw are Aifa Azman, Ainaa Amani, Yee Xin Ying and Whitney Isabelle Wilson. Aira, 20, who is making her Asian Championships debut, is keen to make an impact. "There are five matches before the final, so I'll take it one round at a time. I won't take anyone lightly," said Aira. She received a first-round bye and is expected to meet third seed Ho Tze Lok of Hong Kong in the semi-finals. Barring surprises, Rachel awaits in the final. In last year's edition, Sivasangari finished runner-up after losing to Hong Kong's Chan Sin Yuk. The last Malaysian woman to win the Asian title was squash legend Datuk Nicol David, who lifted her 10th and final crown in Kuwait in 2015.