No downtime for Ameeshenraj as he aims to turn sweat into success
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The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Sister Act II: Aira and Aifa set for national title showdown
PENANG: Squash sisters Aira and Aifa Azman will clash once again in the National Championships final, but with contrasting pressures on their shoulders. It is a repeat of last year's title match: 20-year-old Aira is chasing her third consecutive national crown, while Aifa, 23, is still searching for her first. Aira cruised into the final with a swift 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 win over Goh Zhi Xuan in just 17 minutes at the Nicol David International Squash Centre yesterday (Aug 15). For her, facing her sister has become less intimidating over time. 'I feel less pressure now because it's a familiar face. The first time we played, I was nervous, but after meeting several times, we know each other well,' said Aira. She added that the sisters remain supportive despite being rivals. 'We always back each other until the final. Once we're on court, we focus on ourselves, but after the match, we talk about how it went and debrief together.' Aifa, meanwhile, admits to feeling the weight of expectation as she hunts her maiden national title. 'The toughest part of playing my sister is that she knows everything about me – my style, my routines, even my sleeping schedule. I'll need to dig deep for a new game plan. I really want a national title for my record,' she said. Last year, Aira defeated Aifa 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5 in the final at the Jalan Duta Squash Courts in Kuala Lumpur. This time, big sister is determined to rewrite the ending.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Sabah squash ace Duncan one win away from first national crown
PENANG: National squash player Duncan Lee is on the brink of a career breakthrough as he storms into his first-ever National Championships final. The 23-year-old powered past C. Ameeshenraj 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 in the semi-finals at the Nicol David International Squash Centre on Saturday (Aug 16) — avenging his defeat to the same opponent in last year's second round. Fresh from winning the SEA Cup in Bangkok last month, Duncan is hungry to carry that momentum into Penang. 'This feels like my best chance to lift the title and show that I'm improving. Winning the SEA Cup gave me extra belief, and reaching the final here motivates me even more for the tournaments ahead,' said the Sabah-born Duncan. Last year, Duncan's best showing was a quarter-final finish, falling to Syafiq Kamal. This time, he has gone one step further and stands on the cusp of glory. In Sunday's (Aug 17) final, he faces top seed and teammate Sanjay Jeeva, who needed over an hour to edge Joachim Chuah 12-14, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 — twice as long as Duncan's swift straight-games win. 'It could help that my semi-final was shorter, but it'll still be tough against Sanjay. We know each other's games inside out, so I'll need to be mentally sharp and stick to my plan,' Duncan added. SEMI-FINAL RESULTS (National players unless stated) Men: Duncan Lee bt C. Ameeshenraj 11-8, 11-6, 11-5; Sanjay Jeeva bt Joachim Chuah 12-14, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6. Women: Aira Azman bt Goh Zhi Xuan 11-4, 11-6, 11-6; Aifa Azman bt J. Yasshmita 11-8, 11-4, 11-4.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Aifa overcomes shaky start to tame promising youngster Haneesha
Eyes on the ball: Aifa Azman (right) in action against V. Haneesha during the National Championships quarter-final match yesterday. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star PENANG: Things got off to a slightly shaky start for squash player Aifa Azman at the National Championships, but the second seed maintained her composure to see herself through to the semi-finals. The 23-year-old Aifa, who received a first round bye, fought her way from trailing early on against youngster V. Haneesha to win 12-10, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5 in the quarter-finals at the Nicol David International Squash Centre yesterday.
