Latest news with #Aifa
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Aifa goes down fighting in first round of British Open
PETALING JAYA: National squash player Aifa Azman's (pic) run in the British Open in Birmingham came to a quick end in the first round yesterday. World No. 39 Aifa put on a good effort to fight back against world No. 29 Zeina Mickawy of Egypt, but it wasn't enough as she lost 10-12, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11 in 51 minutes at the Solihull Arden Club.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aifa suffers injury blow in British Open exit
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 39 Aifa Azman put up a brave fight before falling to Egypt's Zeina Mickawy in the first round of the British Open in Birmingham on Sunday. Aifa, who had beaten world No. 29 Mickawy at the 2022 El Gouna Open, went down 12-10, 13-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7 in 51 minutes. World No. 48 Ainaa Amani also bowed out early, losing 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 in just 26 minutes to veteran Englishwoman Sarah-Jane Perry, ranked 25th. On Saturday, world No. 19 Rachel Arnold was stunned by Egypt's world No. 38 Kenzy Ayman 11-6, 14-12, 11-5. National coach Ajaz Azmat praised Aifa's determination despite the result. "Aifa showed tremendous fighting spirit, but unfortunately couldn't get the win as Mickawy played very well," said Ajaz. "She has suffered a hamstring injury after the match, and we're assessing how serious it is." Ajaz added that Ainaa started well but failed to maintain her momentum. "She was 5-0 up in the first game and 4-0 up in the third, but her inconsistency and fitness let her down. "Competing at the British Open demands a very high level of conditioning. "As for Rachel, she gave it a go but couldn't convert her chances into points." Meanwhile, world No. 8 S. Sivasangari, who received a bye in the opening round, will face India's Anahat Singh (No. 57) for a place in the third round on Monday.
The Star
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
It's either Aira or Aifa for title shot, but Egyptian obstacle in the way
PETALING JAYA: Only one of the Azman sisters in squash can progress into the finals of the Bermuda Open, but the key takeaway is that Aifa and Aira Azman are playing good squash. The pair set themselves up a meeting in the semi-finals of the Bermuda Open yesterday, but it remains to be seen if either of them can lift the title at the end.
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aira downs sibling Aifa to reach Bermuda final
KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time national champion Aira Azman stormed into the Bermuda Open final after battling back from a game down to beat her elder sister Aifa in Devonshire on Friday. World No. 30 Aira overcame world No. 45 Aifa 4-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 in 31 minutes in the semi-finals. It was the 21-year-old's second successive win over Aifa, 24. She will be playing in her 10th career final on the PSA Tour. Top seed Aira will face world No. 38 Hana Moataz of Egypt in Saturday's final - their first-ever encounter - with her fifth PSA title in sight. Second seed Hana clawed her way past compatriot and eighth seed Amina El Rihany 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9 in the other semi-final.
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Clash of the Azman sisters in the Bermuda Open
KUALA LUMPUR: The Azman sisters, Aira and Aifa, will battle each other in the semi-finals of the US$28,750 Bermuda Open in Devonshire. Top seed Aira came back from two games down to overcome Egypt's world No. 50 Nour Heikal 6-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-4 in the quarter-final yesterday.. The world No. 30 Malaysian battled for 42 minutes against fifth seed Nour. It was the 20-year-old Aira's second win over Nour in as many meetings. The 24-year-old Aifa, seeded fourth and world No. 42, beat Australia's world No. 63 Alex Haydon 11-3, 11-1, 11-5 in the last eight. It was Aifa's second win over Haydon in two meetings. Two-time national women's champion Aira has met Aifa only once. She beat Aifa in the second round in four games at the Australia Open in March.
