Arnold & Azman Reach Malaysian Open Quarters

The quarter finalists of the Malaysian Open Squash Championships have been decided at the National Squash Centre in Kuala Lumpar.

Womens Wildcard Aifa Azman continues her impressive run in the tournament as she has beaten No.3 seed Yathreb Adel to reach the quarter finals. The 19-year-old battled back from 2-1 down to defeat the Egyptian in 47 minutes. Azman, who has won three of her previous four events, will now face another surprise winner, Hana Ramadan.

Ramadan, who recently won the Egyptian Challenger Tour 4 20k event, has carried her good form into this event. She has beaten World No.18 Emily Whitlock 3-0 in 27 minutes to advance to the next round.

Malaysian No.1 and defending champion Rachel Arnold is through to the quarter finals as she claimed a surprise win against No.7 seed Donna Lobban. Arnold only needed 25 minutes to defeat the higher seeded Australian. Arnold has set up a clash with the tournaments No.1 seed Salma Hany from Egypt.

World No. 8 Hany, was tested in her first match of the event. The No.1 seed was pushed in all three games against Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee. Hany come out on top 3-0, 14-12, 11-9, 12-10 in 43 minutes to advance.

There were two upsets in the Men’s second round draw. Hong Kong’s Tsz Fung Yip claimed an impressive victory over No.4 seed Youssef Soliman. Yip defeated the World No. 17 3-2 in 68 minutes. Yip now faces rising star Victor Crouin from France for a spot in the semi-finals.

Crouin defeated talented Indian Ramit Tandon in a 44 minute 3-1. Crouin is another player coming into this event after a recent victory. The young Frenchman won the 20k HSC Open in impressive style last month and will be looking to repeat that success this week.

Shahjahan Khan from USA claimed the other seeding upset of the round, defeating No.7 seed Karim El Hammamy from Egypt. It was a lengthy affair between the two, with Khan recovering from losing the first game 11-6 to win the next three games 11-8, 12-10, 11-6 and take the 77 minute match and advance to the quarter finals.

Khan has the tough task of facing No.1 seed Miguel Rodriguez In the quarter finals. Rodriguez was pushed all the way in his second round match, as he narrowly beat Japan’s Ryosei Kobayashi 3-2. The ‘Colombian Cannonball’ twice trailed against his younger opponent before managing to hold his nerve in the fifth game and winning 12-10 to keep his title pursuit alive.

Results – Malaysian Open 2021: Men’s second round

[1] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt Ryosei Kobayashi (JPN) 3-2: 5-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-3, 12-10 (79m)
Shahjahan Khan (USA) bt [7] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-6 (77m)
[6] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (36m)
[3] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Ivan Yuen (MAS) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1 (53m)
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt [4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-2: 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (68m)
[5] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-1: 11-8, 11-8, 1-11, 11-8 (44m)
[8] Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-1 (29m)
[2] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Mazen Gamal (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 (34m)

Results – Malaysian Open 2021: Women’s Second round

[1] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 12-10 (43m)
Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt [7] Donna Lobban (AUS) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 11-4 (25m)
Tze Lok Ho (HKG) bt Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (56m)
[4] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 (30m)
[WC] Aifa Azman (MAS) bt [3] Yathreb Adel (EGY) 3-2: 11-3, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7 (47m)
Hana Ramadan (EGY) bt [6] Emily Whitlock (WAL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-0, 11-7 (26m)
[5] Danielle Letourneau (CAN) v Anna Serme (CZE) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (27m)
[2] Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 (55m)

Draw – Malaysian Open 2021: Men’s quarter finals

[1] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v Shahjahan Khan (USA)
[6] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v [3] Eain Yow Ng (MAS
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v [5] Victor Crouin (FRA)
[8] Lucas Serme (FRA) v [2] Saurav Ghosal (IND)

Draw – Malaysian Open 2021: Women’s quarter finals

[1] Salma Hany (EGY) v Rachel Arnold (MAS)
Tze Lok Ho (HKG) v [4] Hollie Naughton (CAN)
[WC] Aifa Azman (MAS) v Hana Ramadan (EGY)
[5] Danielle Letourneau (CAN) v [2] Nadine Shahin (EGY)