Latest news with #Aifa
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Rachel Arnold reaches Asian Squash final after epic win
KUCHING: National squash ace Rachel Arnold emerged as Malaysia's sole representative to advance to the final of the 23rd Asian Individual Squash Championships after defeating fellow Malaysian Aifa Azman in the women's semi-final at the Sarawak Squash Centre, Petra Jaya, here today. The world No. 19 player overcame Aifa 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10 in a fierce battle that lasted 56 minutes. This victory sees Rachel carrying the nation's hopes into the final, just one step away from clinching her maiden Asian title, after another Malaysian representative, Yee Xin Ying, failed to advance to the final in another semifinal. Yee was defeated by Hong Kong's Ho Tze Lok, who secured a 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory in a match that lasted 45 minutes. Rachel is scheduled to face Ho in tomorrow's final to vie for the title of the 23rd edition of the championships. Following their semi-final losses, Yee and Aifa concluded their campaigns at the tournament by sharing third placing.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Rachel Arnold to face Hong Kong's Tze Lok in Asian Women's Individual Squash C'ships final
KUCHING: National squash ace Rachel Arnold emerged as Malaysia's sole representative to advance to the final of the 23rd Asian Individual Squash Championships after defeating fellow Malaysian Aifa Azman in the women's semi-final at the Sarawak Squash Centre, Petra Jaya, here today. The world No. 19 player overcame Aifa 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10 in a fierce battle that lasted 56 minutes. This victory sees Rachel carrying the nation's hopes into the final, just one step away from clinching her maiden Asian title, after another Malaysian representative, Yee Xin Ying, failed to advance to the final in another semifinal. Yee was defeated by Hong Kong's Ho Tze Lok, who secured a 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory in a match that lasted 45 minutes. Rachel is scheduled to face Ho in tomorrow's final to vie for the title of the 23rd edition of the championships. Following their semi-final losses, Yee and Aifa concluded their campaigns at the tournament by sharing third placing.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
(UPDATED) Whitney springs a surprise in Kuching
KUCHING: Malaysia's Whitney Isabelle Wilson pulled off an upset after coming back from a game down to stun India's world No. 69 and ninth seed Akanksha Salunkhe in the Asian Squash Championships in Kuching today. Whitney recorded a 5-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8 win at the Sarawak Squash Centre to seal a place in the second round. World No. 222 Whitney will face third seed Ho Tze Lok of Hong Kong for a place in the quarter-finals tomorrow. Whitney, 17, who is from Sarawak, said this is her first Asian event, and she is happy to upset Akanksha, who is ranked much higher. "I expect a strong challenge against the more experienced and higher ranked Tze Lok, who is ranked 29 in the world," she said. Top seed Rachel Arnold made short work of Taiwan's Lee Yi Hsuan 11-5, 11-6, 11-4, and will next face Japan's Risa Sugimoto. Sugimoto beat Sri Lanka's Chanithma Sinaly 11-5, 11-1, 11-5. Second seed Aira Azman also reached the second round with an 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 win over China's Yin Ziyuan, and will take on South Korea's Ryoo Boram who got a walkover from Singapore's Cassandra Ong. Aira's elder sister, Aifa, also marched into the second round after an easy 11-7, 11-0, 11-2 win over Sri Lankan Yeheni Vonara Kuruppu. Fifth seed Aifa will take on ninth Chan Sin Yuk of Hong Kong next. Ainaa Amani Ampandi downed Eum Hwa Yeong 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 in the first round, and will face Japan's ninth seed Akari Midorikawa, who beat India's Shameena Riaz 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9. In the men's category, top seed Abdulla Al Tamimi of Qatar sent Kuwait's Jassim Al Ghareeb packing in the first round with the world No.23 recording an 11-3, 11-0, 11-2 win. Second seed Lau Tsz Kwan of Hong Kong also had easy passage, beating India's Diwakar Singh 11-2, 11-1, 11-3. Malaysian Duncan Lee will take on Tsz Kwan for a quarter-final berth after beating South Korea's Ryu Jeong Min 11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 11-8. Malaysian fifth seed Sanjay Jeeva overcame South Korean Lee Min Woo 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5 to set up a showdown with ninth seed Wong Chi Him of Hong Kong who beat India's Rahul Baitha 11-7, 11-9, 11-5. Another Malaysian, Joachim Chuah, reached the second round for a clash with Pakistan's Noor Zaman. Joachim beat the Philippines' Reymark Begornia 11-2,11-4, 11-5, while Noor Zaman beat Singapore's Aaron Jon Widjaja 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3. Malaysia's world No. 86 C. Ameeshenraj also advanced to the second round after seeing off Filipino David William Pelino 11-1, 11-7, 11-5. The fifth seed will take on India's Suraj Chand next.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- 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
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Whitney springs a surprise in Kuching
KUCHING: Malaysia's Whitney Isabelle Wilson pulled off an upset after coming back from a game down to stun India's world No. 69 and ninth seed Akanksha Salunkhe in the Asian Squash Championships in Kuching today. Whitney recorded a 5-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8 win at the Sarawak Squash Centre to seal a place in the second round. World No. 222 Whitney will face third seed Ho Tze Lok of Hong Kong for a place in the quarter-finals tomorrow. Whitney, 17, who is from Sarawak, said this is her first Asian event, and she is happy to upset Akanksha, who is ranked much higher. "I expect a strong challenge against the more experienced and higher ranked Tze Lok, who is ranked 29 in the world," she said. Top seed Rachel Arnold made short work of Taiwan's Lee Yi Hsuan 11-5, 11-6, 11-4, and will next face Japan's Risa Sugimoto. Sugimoto beat Sri Lanka's Chanithma Sinaly 11-5, 11-1, 11-5. Second seed Aira Azman also reached the second round with an 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 win over China's Yin Ziyuan, and will take on South Korea's Ryoo Boram who got a walkover from Singapore's Cassandra Ong. Aira's elder sister, Aifa, also marched into the second round after an easy 11-7, 11-0, 11-2 win over Sri Lankan Yeheni Vonara Kuruppu. Fifth seed Aifa will take on ninth Chan Sin Yuk of Hong Kong next. Ainaa Amani Ampandi downed Eum Hwa Yeong 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 in the first round, and will face Japan's ninth seed Akari Midorikawa, who beat India's Shameena Riaz 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9. In the men's category, second seed Lau Tsz Kwan of Hong Kong beat India's Diwakar Singh 11-2, 11-1, 11-3. Malaysian fifth seed Sanjay Jeeva beat South Korean Lee Min Woo 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5 to set up a date with ninth seed Wong Chi Him of Hong Kong who beat India's Rahul Baitha 11-7, 11-9, 11-5. Another Malaysian, Joachim Chuah, also progressed to the second round to meet Pakistan's Noor Zaman. Joachim beat Philippines' Reymark Begornia 11-2,11-4, 11-5, while Noor Zaman beat Singapore's Aaron Jon Widjaja 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3.
