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Nicol Leads Malaysian Charge Into Semis

GEORGE TOWN, April 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysian squash sensation and current women's world No. 1 Datuk Nicol David led the Malaysian charge into the semi-finals of the 16th Asian Individual Squash Championships here Thursday.

Besides Nicol, Low Wee Wern, Delia Odette Arnold, Ong Beng Hee and Mohd Nafiizwan Mohd Adnan also advanced to the last four of the competition.

Nicol, who is defending her Asian title for the seventh consecutive time while gunning for her eighth title in the championships, outclassed Hong Kong's Chan Ho-Ling 11-6, 11-6, 11-7.

The 27-year-old five-time world champion, who took 31 minutes to down her opponent in straight sets, said she was glad to win the match in front of her family and friends.

"I was trying not to give too much room for her (Chan) but she still managed to play some good shots to steal points," she said during the post-match interview here Thursday.

She said she need to be cautious tomorrow as it would be a tougher encounter against Delia, who came back from 1-2 down in the fourth set to beat Dipika Pallikal of India 9-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 in an hour-long battle.

Wee Wern, ranked world number 13, swept aside team-mate Siti Munirah Jusoh 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-2 to set up a semi-final date with the tournament second seed Annie Au Wing-Chi of Hong Kong Friday.

On her next game against Annie Au who defeated Song Sun Mi of South Korea 11-3, 11-6, 11-8, Wee Wern said she had never beaten her opponent in their last few meetings.

"I lost to her 3-0 in last year Korean Open but I just hope that the home crowd will cheer me on to beat her tomorrow," she said.

In the men's category, Beng Hee, ranked world number 27, beat him compatriot Elvinn Keo Jinn Chung 11-8, 11-4, 9-11 and 15-13 in 51 minutes.

After shaky performances in his last two tournaments, Beng Hee said he was hoping to play better and be more focused on his game Friday against his opponent Siddharth Suchde of India, who beat Abdullah Khalid H. Al-Mezayen of Kuwait 12-14, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8.

"I was a bit over relax today but Elvinn did well to steal the third set from me before I regained my composure in the fourth set to end the contest," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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