Rachel Arnold (left) and Vanessa Raj in action during the SEA Games in this file photo. Malayisan Rachel Arnold will play Tong Tsz-Wing of Hong Kong in the women’s final today at the Sarawak Club. — Bernama photo
KUCHING: Top seed Vanessa Raj’s bid to make her fifth consecutive final in the women’s competition of the PSA Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit failed to materialise when she was upstaged by Tong Tsz-Wing of Hong Kong in the semi-finals at the Sarawak Club courts yesterday.
The fourth seed from Hong Kong took 60 minutes to subdue the Malaysian 3-1 (13-15, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2) and will meet second seed Rachel Arnold of Malaysia in today’s final in the 5th Leg of the 10-leg circuit.
Rachel did not face much problem in disposing of fifth seeded Malaysian Zulhijjah Azan 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-7) in the other semi-final.
Having received a first-round bye, Rachel ousted Egyptian challenger Hana Moataz 3-0 (11-5, 14-12, 11-9) in the last eight.
The all-Malaysia men’s final will be fought between top seed Addeen Idrakie and Mohd Syafiq Kamal after overcoming their foes.
Addeen took the first set 11-6 in yesterday’s semi-final but Cheuk Him Mong of Hong Kong levelled the score 1-1 by winning the second set 11-9 before the Malaysian won the next two sets 13-11, 11-5 for a 3-1 victory.
Syafiq was in his element but did not have it easy in the other semi-final, losing 9-11, 7-11 to another Malaysian Elvinn Keo, the winner of the Kuala Lumpur Leg at Bukit Jalil, before coming back strongly to end the match 11-8, 11-9, 12-10 in 80 minutes of play.
On Wednesday, Syafiq advanced to the last four after creating an upset 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 13-11, 10-12, 11-3) win over tournament second seed Ahmad Al-Saraj of Jordan.