SRAM PSA 1 Preview: Low Wee Wern Back After Over A Year

The final event of the week on the Challenger Tour comes from Malaysia, with the SRAM PSA 1 taking place at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

The event is limited to only domestic entries due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with all 48 players in the tournament hailing from Malaysia.

The Challenger 10 level tournament features both a men’s and women’s event, with 24 players on either side of the draw aiming to secure glory come Monday afternoon.

World No.46 Ivan Yuen will be the top seed for the men’s tournament, with World No.79 Mohammad Syafiq Kamal and World No.94 Addeen Idrakie among the top three seeds for the event.

The women’s draw features five members of the top 100 in the World Rankings, with the likes of Rachel Arnold, Aifa Azman, Ooh Kah Yan and Chan Yiwen all in action.

The top seed for the women’s draw will be World No.25 Low Wee Wern, and we spoke to the Malaysian ahead of her first outing on Tour in 14 months.

“It feels good to have a tournament back on the calendar. I have not played PSA since Feb 2020 and it’s over a year now. I’m looking forward to competing again,” she said.

“I hope it will be a packed 2020/21! It’s frustrating to be healthy and not being able to compete. In Malaysia we haven’t gotten approval to travel overseas for tournaments but I have applied and I really do hope I can start traveling soon.

“It will be a good couple of matches for me here this week to get back in a competitive environment before looking forward to the bigger events.”

As her nation’s No.1, and a member of the World’s top 25, Low Wee Wern admits there is a little bit of pressure, but she is also popgun to break back into the top ten once more.

“I got up to World No.24 before the whole COVID situation and I believe I was just starting to find my footing on tour again after such a long absence,” the Malaysian explained.

“It’s unfortunate with the timing but I felt like I was finally gaining some confidence. I do hope to break the top 10 once again.

“It’s a proud moment for me to be National Number 1 and National Champ again after being out for close to three years in total. Most people didn’t think I would return to playing competitively, what more coming back and being No.1.”

The event takes place from Friday 9 to Monday 12 at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil, where Ivan Yuen and Low Wee Wern are the top seeds for the tournament. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

Men’s Draw: SRAM PSA 1
[1] Ivan Yuen (MAS) – [Bye]
Joachim Chuah (MAS) v [9/16] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS)
[9/16] Siow Yee Xian (MAS) v [WC] Ishant Shah (MAS)
[6] Darren Chan (MAS) – [Bye]
[5] Ong Sai Hung (MAS) – [Bye]
[9/16] Darryl Gan (MAS) v Low Wa Seen (MAS)
[9/16] Duncan Lee (MAS) v Shamiel Sharul (MAS)
[3] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) – [Bye]
[4] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) – [Bye]
Harith Dnanial (MAS) v [9/16] Jia Rong (MAS)
[9/16] Amir Amirul (MAS) v [WC] Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS)
[7] Elvinn Keo (MAS) – [Bye]
[8] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) – [Bye]
Muhammad Fayyad Hashim (MAS) v [9/16] Adam Agan (MAS)
[9/16] Andrik Lim (MAS) v Muhammad Shauqi Haliim Bin Ahmad (MAS)
[2] Mohammed Syafiq Kamal (MAS) – [Bye]

Women’s Draw: SRAM PSA 1
[1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) – [Bye]
Yu Jie (MAS) v [9/16] Chen Yu Ng (MAS)
[9/16] Maisara Azlan (MAS) v Anrie Goh (MAS)
[7] Aika Azman (MAS) – [Bye]
[6] Yee Xin Ying (MAS) – [Bye]
Doyce Lee (MAS) v [9/16] Thanusaa Uthrian (MAS)
[9/16] Heng Wai Wong (MAS) v Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS)
[4] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) – [Bye]
[3] Aifa Azman (MAS) – [Bye]
Sashmithaa Nityanandan (MAS) v [9/16] Goh Zhi Xuan (MAS)
[9/16] Aira Azman (MAS) v Teoh Liyen (MAS)
[8] Ainaa Amani (MAS) – [Bye]
[5] Chan Yiwen (MAS) – [Bye]
Varsha Mithraa (MAS) v [9/16] Angie Ooi (MAS)
[9/16] Sehveetrraa Kumar (MAS) v Issabelle Whitney (MAS)
[2] Rachel Arnold (MAS) – [Bye]