PSNS President’s Trophy Preview: Yiwen Hoping To Start 2022 Well

The PSNS President’s Trophy is one of five events no the Challenger Tour this week, with the action coming from the Royal Seri Menanti Golf & Country Club in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

The Challenger 5 level tournament will take place from Thursday, February 24 to Sunday, February 27, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, entries were domestically restricted, allowing only those permanently residing in Malaysia to enter.

Just one non-Malaysian will feature across the two 24-strong draws, with Pakistan’s Hamza Imtiaz in the men’s draw. He will be in the 9/16 seeding bracket, and will face off with Isaac George in the opening round of the competition.

The men’s event will be led by Darren Rahul Pragasam, and the World No.115 will be aiming to take his maiden title on Tour this week. However, the likes of Ong Sai Hung, Elvinn Keo and Wee Ming Hock will be challenging for the crown come the end of the week.

World No.80 Chan Yiwen will be the top seed for the women’s draw, and we spoke to her before the event. She is hoping to kick her 2022 campaign off with a good result this week in Negeri Sembilan.

“This will be the first tournament for me in 2022. I hope to start it with a bang,” she said.

“Although I’m seeded No.1 for the event, I’m not taking anyone for granted. It won’t be easy because we have been training together. We are familiar with each other’s game plans. Looking forward to play some exciting matches.”

Her last appearance on Tour came at the Bronze level Malaysian Open Squash Championships, and she enjoyed getting to see some of the best players in the world during the week. That gives her more reason to work harder in the coming months, as she aims to move up the World Rankings.

“It was amazing that I get to watch some top-level squash in person again after a long period of lockdown in Malaysia. I’m more than happy to learn from the top players in and out of the court to become better player,” the Malaysian explained.

“I will continue to work hard to play higher level of squash. Eventually, the rankings will be rising. I’m feeling confident to break into a higher ranking if get to travel regularly to play tournaments.”

Yiwen will be the top seed for the tournament, but will have Ooi Kah Yan, the World No.91, as her nearest competitor for the title. Yee Xin Yang and Aira Azman are up the rest of the top four seeds, in a draw that features 15 junior players.

The event takes place from Thursday, February 24 to Sunday, February 27 at the Royal Seri Menanti Golf & Country Club in Negeri Sembilan, where Chan Yiwen is the top seed for the women’s draw. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on *Twitter* and *Facebook* for daily updates from the event.

Men’s First Round Draw: PSNS President’s Trophy
[2] Ong Sai Hung (MAS) – [Bye]
Low Wa Sern (MAS) v [9/16] Ishant Shah (MAS)
[9/16] Amir Amirul (MAS) v Dhirren Rajarathiram (MAS)
[6] Hafiz Shafri (MAS) – [Bye]
[5] Duncan Lee (MAS) – [Bye]
[WC] Kreethi Pilley (MAS) v [9/16] Harith Danial (MAS)
[9/16] Sunil Kumar Sivanesan (MAS) v Loshmaan Veerakumar (MAS)
[3] Elvinn Keo (MAS) – [Bye]
[4] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) – [Bye]
Isaac George (MAS) v [9/16] Hamza Imtiaz (PAK)
[9/16] Joachim Chuah (MAS) v [WC] Mohd Danysh Islee Madzzuki (MAS)
[7] Andrik Lim (MAS) – [Bye]
[8] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) – [Bye]
[WC] Veroon Heng (MAS) v [9/16] Muhammad Alif (MAS)
[9/16] Tay Jun Qian (MAS) v Kishovarmand Perumal (MAS)
[1] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) – [Bye]

Women’s First Round Draw: PSNS President’s Trophy
[1] Chan Yiwen (MAS) – [Bye]
[WC] Haneesha Veerakumar (MAS) v [9/16] Choo Yi Jie (MAS)
[9/16] Shasmithaa Nityanandan (MAS) v Goh Zhi Xuan (MAS)
[6] Sehveetrraa Kumar (MAS) – [Bye]
[7] Thanusaa Uthrian (MAS) – [Bye]
Darsyanaa Ravintharan (MAS) v [9/16] Nazihah Hanis (MAS)
[9/16] Vinikiashenie Kulasegaran (MAS) v [WC] Harleein Tan (MAS)
[3] Yee Xin Yang (MAS) – [Bye]
[4] Aika Azman (MAS) – [Bye]
Teoh Liyen (MAS) v [9/16] Chen Yu Ng (MAS)
[9/16] Vharshamithraa Dinesh (MAS) v Abhitha Shanraj (MAS)
[8] Yu Jie (MAS) – [Bye]
[5] Maisara Azlan (MAS) – [Bye]
Durar Camalia (MAS) v [9/16] Heng Wai Wong (MAS)
[9/16] Vitrikashenie Kulasegaran (MAS) v Angie Ooi (MAS)
[2] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) – [Bye]