KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Bernama) -- The champion in the 2011 edition, Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan craves a second championship after advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Individual Squash Championship at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil, today.
But, Mohd Nafiizwan who created history as the first national men’s player to win the bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, must get past a formidable obstacle in the form of first seed, Saurav Ghosal of India in the eight best players’ action tomorrow.
Earlier, the 33-year-old Terengganu-born was forced to work hard before beating his opponent from the Philippines, Robert Andrew Garcia 3-0 (13-11, 11-8, 15-13) in the third round action to book a slot to the quarter-finals.
Sixth seeded Mohd Nafiizwan conceded the match tomorrow would be a balanced action, but stressed that he would give his best to brighten his chance of securing a second title.
‘’Ghozal is number 10 in the world, and I lost 2-3 the last time I faced him at the 2018 Asian Games. But I beat him 3-2 earlier at the 2017 World Team Championship. I have a feeling there will be a good match tomorrow between us,’’ he said when met by reporters here.
Meanwhile, 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games gold medal winner, seventh seeded Ng Eain Yow, easily beat Ammar Al Tamimi of Kuwait 3-0 (11-2, 11-6, 11-4) to set up a meeting with third seed, Max Lee Ho Yin of Hong Kong.
Also, following in Mohd Nafiizwan and Eain Yow’s footsteps was Ivan Yuen Chee Wern who cowed Japanese player, Endo Tomotaka 3-1 (10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-0) and would face fourth seed, Leo Au Chun Ming of Hong Kong.
In the meantime, Mohd Syafiq Kamal did not make it past the third round after losing to second seed Yip Tsz Fung of Hong Kong 0-3 (8-11, 3-11, 6-11).
The 2019 Asia Individual Squash Championship, which started yesterday until Sunday, was participated by several Asia’s renowned players including Ghozal and Annie Au of Hong Kong who is ranked 11th in the world in the women’s category.
-- BERNAMA
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