KUALA LUMPUR — It’s a dream come true for national female squash player Chan Yi Wen, who secured a slot for the 2024 World Squash Championships in Cairo, Egypt, next month after winning the Asia zone qualifiers here today.
In the final, which took place at the Squash Centre in Jalan Duta here, Yi Wen had no trouble beating fellow Malaysian K. Sehveetrraa, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3.
The 23-year-old athlete said it felt good to qualify this time after failing to make the cut last year.
“I am proud to be able to control the pressure in this tournament because there is only one slot (to the World Championships), and I really want to join my teammates who have qualified earlier because last year I missed out just by one step,” said the Kedah-born athlete when met by reporters after the final.
Among the best achievements of the world number 79 so far this year has been winning the Hong Kong PSA Challenge Cup in February.
Meanwhile, in the men’s category final, national representative Addeen Idrakie lost to top seed Ryunosuke Tsukue from Japan, 9-11, 8-11, 3-11, thus failing to qualify.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director Major (Rtd) S. Maniam said seven Malaysians will participate in the World Championships in Cairo, six of whom are from the women’s category.
They are 2022 Asian Games women’s singles gold medalist S. Sivasangari; Aifa and Aira Azman; Rachel Arnold, Ainaa Amani, and Yi Wen.
Malaysia’s sole representative in the men’s category is 2022 Asian Games men’s singles gold medallist Ng Eain Yow.
“Yi Wen must be pretty pleased because last year, she was scheduled to go (the world championships) but lost in the early round, so this is a happy ending for her.
“In the men’s, Addeen did well, he had to work hard throughout this tournament to get to the final, and in the final, he gave everything.
“But today, Tsukue played well, so he deserved that (world championships slot). Overall, on behalf of SRAM, we are very pleased with the players’ performance,” said Maniam. — April 21, 2024