Squash: Seven Malaysian Men's Squash Players Through To The Third Round

GEORGE TOWN, April 26 (Bernama) -- National squash player Ong Beng Hee opened his hunt for his fifth title in the Asian Individual Squash Championship by thrashing South Korean youngster Nyeon Ho Lee at the Nicol David International Squash Centre in Bukit Dumbar, here today.

Besides Beng Hee, Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan, Ivan Yuen Chee Wern, Elvinn Keo Jinn Chung, Choong Kam Hing, Kamran Khan and Muhd Asyraf Azan were the other Malaysians to advance to the third round of the competition.

After shaky performances in his last two tournaments, Beng Hee, ranked world number 27, took only 35 minutes to beat his opponent in straight sets of 11-5, 11-4 and 11-9.

"It is always good to win in the first round," said Beng Hee when met after his match.

He said he will be focusing on tomorrow's match at the glass court and expected a tougher time against Kamran.

The 31-year-old Penangite won the competition in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.

National number three squash player Mohd Nafiizwan, 25, also advanced to the third round after outclassing Wong Hon Fung of Hong Kong 13-11, 11-2 and 11-6 in 30 minutes.

Mohd Nafiizwan will face Waqas Mehboob of Pakistan tomorrow for a place in the quarter final.

Earlier, Waqas had defeated Lee Seung Taek of South Korea 11-7, 11-6 and 11-8 in 28 minutes.

In the women's category, world number 13 Low Wee Wern cleared her first hurdle when she beat Chinatsu Matsui of Japan 11-7, 11-5 and 11-3 in 30 minutes.

"Although I have beaten her in the past few meetings, it was a close game as she (Chinatsu) pushed really hard today," she said.

Wee Wern will next play against teammate Zulhijjah Azan who beat Gu Jinyue of China 11-5, 13-11 and 11-9 in 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, national squash queen and current world number one Datuk Nicol Ann David who received a first round bye, will play against Jerryca Teo of Singapore in the second round tomorrow at 5pm.

-- BERNAMA

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