Latest news with #SRAM
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
M'sia dominate quarter-final berths at Asian Individual Squash Championships
MALAYSIA continued to showcase dominance in Asian squash as five national women's players advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Asian Individual Championships at the Sarawak Squash Centre, Petra Jaya, today. Top seed Rachel Arnold had little trouble dispatching Japan's Risa Sugimoto in straight games, winning 11-5, 11-7, 11-8. The 29-year-old is set to face China's Tong Tsz Wing, who earlier defeated Singapore's Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-4, 11-6, 11-7. Also recording a comfortable victory was Aira Azman, who overwhelmed Japan's Boram Ryoo 11-1, 11-3, 11-4. Aira is scheduled to face fellow Malaysian Yee Xin Ying in tomorrow's last eight. Earlier, Yee beat another Japanese opponent, Erisa Sano, 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7. Aifa Azman also secured her place by defeating Chan Sin Yuk of China 11-3, 11-5, 11-5. She will next face another Chinese player, Lee Ka Yi. Another Malaysian player, Ainaa Amani, extended the women's team's excellence by defeating Japan's Akari Midorikawa 11-3, 11-3, 11-6. Ainaa is set to meet Ho Tze Lok in another quarter-final tie. Meanwhile, in the men's category, Joachim Chuah advanced to the last eight after a hard-fought five-game battle against Pakistan's Noor Zaman, winning 11-3, 11-3, 3-11, 10-12, 11-2. Joachim will face India's Velavan Senthilkumar next. His teammate, Ameeshenraj Chandaran, also earned a convincing win, defeating India's Suraj Chand 5-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 to book a meeting with top Qatari seed, Abdulla Al-Tamimi. Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) head coach, Shahril Shahidan expressed confidence in the growing maturity of the young Malaysian players in high-intensity matches. 'In the women's category, we have strong hopes, especially with Rachel as the top seed. 'As for the men's matches, they are expected to be more intense, but I believe in the physical ability and fighting spirit of our young players. Our hope is for them to remain consistent,' he told Bernama.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia dominate quarter-final berths at Asian Individual Squash Championships
MALAYSIA continued to showcase dominance in Asian squash as five national women's players advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Asian Individual Championships at the Sarawak Squash Centre, Petra Jaya, today. Top seed Rachel Arnold had little trouble dispatching Japan's Risa Sugimoto in straight games, winning 11-5, 11-7, 11-8. The 29-year-old is set to face China's Tong Tsz Wing, who earlier defeated Singapore's Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-4, 11-6, 11-7. Also recording a comfortable victory was Aira Azman, who overwhelmed Japan's Boram Ryoo 11-1, 11-3, 11-4. Aira is scheduled to face fellow Malaysian Yee Xin Ying in tomorrow's last eight. Earlier, Yee beat another Japanese opponent, Erisa Sano, 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7. Aifa Azman also secured her place by defeating Chan Sin Yuk of China 11-3, 11-5, 11-5. She will next face another Chinese player, Lee Ka Yi. Another Malaysian player, Ainaa Amani, extended the women's team's excellence by defeating Japan's Akari Midorikawa 11-3, 11-3, 11-6. Ainaa is set to meet Ho Tze Lok in another quarter-final tie. Meanwhile, in the men's category, Joachim Chuah advanced to the last eight after a hard-fought five-game battle against Pakistan's Noor Zaman, winning 11-3, 11-3, 3-11, 10-12, 11-2. Joachim will face India's Velavan Senthilkumar next. His teammate, Ameeshenraj Chandaran, also earned a convincing win, defeating India's Suraj Chand 5-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 to book a meeting with top Qatari seed, Abdulla Al-Tamimi. Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) head coach, Shahril Shahidan expressed confidence in the growing maturity of the young Malaysian players in high-intensity matches. 'In the women's category, we have strong hopes, especially with Rachel as the top seed. 'As for the men's matches, they are expected to be more intense, but I believe in the physical ability and fighting spirit of our young players. Our hope is for them to remain consistent,' he told Bernama.
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Borneo Post
Players from 16 countries in Kuching for 23rd Asian Individual and Doubles Squash Championships
Rentap (front fifth left) is flanked by Azlan and Lucy in a group photo with team coaches and other distinguished guests. — Photo by Kentigern Minggu KUCHING (June 17): The 23rd Asian Individual and Doubles Squash Championships 2025 will witness 87 contenders from 16 Asian countries vying for top honours. Running from today until June 26 at the Sarawak Squash Centre here, the championships will feature athletes from Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, China, Iran, Kuwait, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Iraq, and Macao. 'I hope you will demonstrate that squash remains a highly relevant and fiercely competitive sport across the world,' said Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu at the welcoming dinner last night. Rentap commended organisers Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) and Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak (SRAS) for their efforts in securing support for the championships. 'They have also consistently ensured that both the venue and the event are welcoming to all participating nations,' he said. He called for more international sporting events to be held in Sarawak to showcase the state's natural beauty and peaceful charm to the world. Among those present at the welcoming dinner were SRAS president Lucy Read, deputy president Dr Shafiq Abdullah, and SRAM deputy president Azlan Iskandar.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Coach backs Sivasangari to shine at British Open
NATIONAL squash ace S. Sivasangari is poised to reach new heights at the upcoming British Open, with her coach Ajaz Azmat backing the world No. 8 to deliver a standout performance in Birmingham. The 26-year-old Malaysian, who created history by making it to the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Chicago earlier this month — a feat last achieved by Datuk Nicol David in 2017 — is brimming with confidence heading into the prestigious Diamond-level tournament. ALSO READ: Sivasangari smashes history – ends Malaysia's 8-year World Champs drought Sivasangari, who already clinched the Cincinnati Open title this year, has been training under the guidance of former world champion and three-time British Open winner Gregory Gaultier in Prague since April. 'Sivasangari's game has matured under Gaultier. I'm confident we'll see an even better version of her at the British Open,' Ajaz, who oversees her training in Malaysia, told New Straits Times. She starts her campaign with a first-round bye and is expected to cruise past her second-round match against either Scotland's world No. 53 Lisa Aitken or India's world No. 56 Anahat Singh. Her first major hurdle is anticipated in the third round against Japan's world No. 9 Satomi Watanabe, who, like Sivasangari, reached the World Championships quarter-finals and recently made the final of the Palm Hills Open in Giza. 'Satomi did well to reach the Palm Hills final and will be full of confidence going into Birmingham,' said Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director Andrew Cross. If Sivasangari overcomes Satomi, she is likely to face Egypt's world No. 5 Amina Orfi in the quarter-finals — a rematch of their Malaysia Cup clash in November, which Orfi won. Last year, Sivasangari exited the British Open in the second round after falling to Egyptian star Nour El Sherbini. In the men's draw, national No. 1 Ng Eain Yow, ranked 12th in the world, also received a first-round bye. He will face France's Victor Crouin (No. 14) in a tough second-round encounter. 'Matches against Crouin are always tight,' said Cross. 'He had to dig deep to beat him 20-18 in the fifth game at last year's Singapore Open.' Victory could set Eain Yow up for a quarter-final showdown with world No. 5 Joel Makin of Wales. Meanwhile, Rachel Arnold (No. 19), Aifa Azman (No. 39), and Ainaa Amani (No. 48) will also represent Malaysia in the women's main draw. Rachel will play Egypt's Kenzy Ayman (No. 38), Aifa meets Zeina Mickawy (No. 29), while Ainaa faces England's world No. 25 Sarah-Jane Perry in their opening matches.
