KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran Ong Beng Hee proved there is still fire in his belly after winning a 91-minute battle with team-mate Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan to qualify for the semi-finals of the CIMB Nicol David KL Open squash championships at the Berjaya Times Square.
The 32-year-old Beng Hee needed five sets to tame world No. 34 Nafiizwan 10-12, 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7 yesterday.
Nafiizwan had earlier stunned world No. 10 and team-mate Mohd Azlan Iskandar in five sets in the first round on Wednesday.
Stumbling block: Malaysia’s Ong Beng Hee (left) bumping into compatriot Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan during their CIMB Nicol David KL Open quarter-final yesterday. Beng Hee won 10-12, 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7. Beng Hee, ranked 23rd in the world, will now face Omar Mosad of Egypt for a place in the final.
Beng Hee, who won the KL Open title in 2008, admitted that he felt under pressure after losing the first set to Nafiizwan.
“I did not play my best ... I was lucky to reach the semi-finals. Nafiizwan played really well but lost because he lacked experience,” said Beng Hee.
“However, Nafiizwan is on the right track to replace me and Azlan as the next national champion.
“Just give Nafiizwan another year and I believe he will break into the world’s top 10. It was a tiring match against him. I hope I can give my best again in the semi-finals.”
Nafiizwan, meanwhile, was not pleased with his own performance.
“I lost because I did not have the hunger to win like I did against Azlan in the first round.
“I have to train harder and improve my mental strength,” said Nafiizwan.
The good run of qualifier and world No. 75 Leo Au of Hong Kong came to an end when he fell to defending champion and top seed Karim Darwish of Egypt in the quarter-finals.
Leo, who upset world No. 37 Ryan Cuskelly of Australia in the first round on Wednesday, was no match for Karim, going down 5-11, 3-11, 9-11 in 26 minutes.
THE STAR
The 32-year-old Beng Hee needed five sets to tame world No. 34 Nafiizwan 10-12, 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7 yesterday.
Nafiizwan had earlier stunned world No. 10 and team-mate Mohd Azlan Iskandar in five sets in the first round on Wednesday.
Stumbling block: Malaysia’s Ong Beng Hee (left) bumping into compatriot Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan during their CIMB Nicol David KL Open quarter-final yesterday. Beng Hee won 10-12, 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7.Beng Hee, who won the KL Open title in 2008, admitted that he felt under pressure after losing the first set to Nafiizwan.
“I did not play my best ... I was lucky to reach the semi-finals. Nafiizwan played really well but lost because he lacked experience,” said Beng Hee.
“However, Nafiizwan is on the right track to replace me and Azlan as the next national champion.
“Just give Nafiizwan another year and I believe he will break into the world’s top 10. It was a tiring match against him. I hope I can give my best again in the semi-finals.”
Nafiizwan, meanwhile, was not pleased with his own performance.
“I lost because I did not have the hunger to win like I did against Azlan in the first round.
“I have to train harder and improve my mental strength,” said Nafiizwan.
The good run of qualifier and world No. 75 Leo Au of Hong Kong came to an end when he fell to defending champion and top seed Karim Darwish of Egypt in the quarter-finals.
Leo, who upset world No. 37 Ryan Cuskelly of Australia in the first round on Wednesday, was no match for Karim, going down 5-11, 3-11, 9-11 in 26 minutes.
THE STAR
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