Malaysia Cup RD1: Home Favourite Yuen Progresses as Two Malaysians Fall Short in Evening Session

Ivan Yuen was the only local player to join this morning’s winners as round one of the Ace Malaysia Squash Cup, PSA World Tour Bronze event continued with the final eight matches of the evening.

The S2 Sports Complex in Seremban played host, with Marta Dominguez Fernandez became the second Spanish winner of the day, joining her compatriot Bernat Jaume in the next round with her win over home favourite Ainaa Amani.

Fernandez, who ranks one position below her opponent, fell a game behind thanks to a quick start from Amani.

The Spanish No.1 quickly righted the ship and won three successive games 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 to earn a round two spot, where she faces No.6 seed Amina Orfi.

“It was my first win in a Bronze tournament so I’m very happy. I didn’t start really well, I had a good first game but I could have had more good balls in the back and had more opportunities to attack, but I’m really happy with my performance overall,” said Fernandez afterwards.

“I’m really happy to play against [Orfi]. She’s a really good player, she’s very young, she’s having amazing results so I’m happy to play against her and to share the court and see.

“This result is really good for me to win some points and maybe climb some positions. My goal is to be in more tournaments like this and play against the top players.”

Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Lau also booked his spot in the second round with a 10-12, 3-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8 win over Egypt’s Yassin ElShafei.

Lau escaped a two-game deficit, cutting out the errors from his play and attacking ElShafei on the front foot which completely changed the momentum, with Lau going on to win three consecutive games.

Speaking afterwards, Lau was critical of his start to the match.

“I think in the first two games I made a lot of mistakes. I’m was playing too slow. In the third game I just wanted to be more physical and increase the rhythm and cut down on mistakes.

“I just want to play my best squash, and I just want to enjoy the squash I have been playing.”

Tsz-Wing Tong continued Hong Kong’s success on court one as she defeated Germany’s Saskia Bienhard in straight games, followed by home favourite and Malaysian No.2 Ivan Yuen who treated his home tournament to a dramatic five-game clash as he beat out Egypt’s Aly Hussein to a spot in the second round.

In the fastest match of the tournament so far, Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee dispatched Switzerland’s Nadia Pfister in just 17 minutes, giving up just 10 points over the entire match.

Afterwards, the 29-year-old spoke about her strategy going into the match.

“I tried to stick to my game plan, I tried to keep the length to the corner so I had more opportunity for my shots.

“I think the duration of the match is not too important to me, as long as I kept to my game plan and kept my shots sharp enough.”

Speaking on tomorrow’s match against No.3 seed Aira Azman, Lee was confident.

“I think I will hold my nerve, try to keep the pressure on her and try to stick to my game plan and play a good match.”

In the final match of the day on the glass court, Ibrahim Elkabbani booked his place in the second round after he defeated Malaysian Wildcard Ameeshenraj Chandaran.

The Egyptian took the match in three consecutive games, with the Malaysian’s only lead in the whole match coming from the first four points where Chandaran had a 3-1 lead, before Elkabbani took control of the match.

“I was so ready for today’s battle. That’s my first win at a Bronze event,” said Elkabbani after the match.

“I got ready for this tournament after my biggest title so far last week in South Africa. So I’m happy, I’m through today in three so I can be ready for tomorrow’s battle.

“I’ve been working so hard the last couple of weeks. I had a very good four weeks training with my coaches. I’m so happy It paid off this tournament and I’m looking forward to winning tomorrow’s battle.

On facing Malaysian No.1 Eain Yow Ng, the 21-year-old was aware of the challenge ahead.

“It’s a tough battle. Eain is a very good player, he’s a very tough player. His movement on the court is absolutely awesome. I really have to be ready for that kind of battle and I hope I can go through tomorrow’s battle as well.”

Two English wins wrapped up play on Court 1 as Alicia Mead beat France’s Marie Stephan in five games and Ben Smith defeated Pakistan’s Muhammed Asim Khan on a competitive three games. The English pair will face Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramanian and France’s Sebastien Bonmalais respectively.

Tomorrow’s morning session of the Ace Malaysia Squash Cup begins at 12:00 (GMT+8). All of the action will be shown live on SQUASHTV.

For more on the Malaysia Cup, follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok  and YouTube.

Results – Men’s First Round: Evening Session

Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) bt Yassin Elshafei (EGY) 3-2: 10-12, 3-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8 (47m)
Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Aly Hussein (EGY) 3-2: 11-6, 11-13, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5 (67m)
Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) bt [WC] Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (42m)
Ben Smith (ENG) bt Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-8, 13-11, 11-6 (44m)

Results – Women’s First Round: Evening Session

Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) bt Ainaa Amani (MAS) 3-1: 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (34m)
Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (29m)
Ka Yi Lee (HKG) bt Nadia Pfister (SUI) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 (17m)
Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Marie Stephan (FRA) 3-2: 11-4, 5-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-7 (47m)