2 days ago
Whitney and seven others reach Asian Junior Squash semi-finals
KUALA LUMPUR: Whitney Isabelle Wilson and seven other Malaysians stormed into the semi-finals of their respective categories at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in South Korea on Thursday.
The 17-year-old, seeded third, overcame compatriot and fifth seed Najwa Zara 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 in the girls' Under-19 quarter-finals at the Gimcheon Squash Centre.
Whitney will now face top seed Anahat Singh of India on Friday for a place in the final.
Anahat, who captured the British Junior Open Under-17 title in January, made light work of Malaysia's Doyce Lee, winning 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 in the quarters.
Whitney admitted that beating the in-form Indian would be a tall order.
"However, I'll do my best to turn the tables on her. I really want to reach the final this year after settling for bronze at the last three editions," she said.
Compatriot Anrie Goh, seeded fifth, put up a brave fight but fell 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 to third seed Ena Kwong of Hong Kong in the other girls' Under-19 quarter-final.
In the girls' Under-17, second seed Harleein Tan booked her spot in the last four with an 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 win over compatriot T. Dakshayni.
She will take on third seed Chung Yee Ling of Hong Kong next.
The girls' Under-15 also saw two Malaysians advance.
Second seed Jinoreeka Ning breezed past India's Aadya Budhia 11-6, 11-2, 11-2 to set up a semi-final clash with compatriot Siti Syaurah Sufian, who beat Pakistan's Sehrish Ali 11-4, 11-7, 11-2.
Top seed Maisarah Khairul Nizam progressed to the girls' Under-13 semi-finals with an 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 win over India's Divyanshi Jain. She next faces Pakistan's third seed Mahnoor Ali.
In the boys' Under-19, second seed Low Wa Sern stormed into the semi-finals with an 11-3, 12-10, 11-5 victory over South Korea's Lee Jonghyeok. He will meet Japan's Renshi Makino next.
Meanwhile, top seed M. Nickhileswar defeated India's Subash Choudhary 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7 in the boys' Under-17 and will face third seed Shu Takahashi of Japan in the last four.
Second seed Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz also kept Malaysian hopes alive in the same category, downing India's Shiven Agarwal 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-1. He next face India'third seed Aryaveer Dewan.
