Thursday August 13, 2009
HK outing for Aika
By NG WEI LOON
(source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/8/13/central/4480167&sec=central#)
AFTER showing her promise at this season’s CIMB junior squash circuit, Aika Azman from Kedah has gained promotion and stepped up to feature in girls’ Under-15 section of the SportExcel series.
Having had to settle for second best in the age-group at the preceding two legs, the 12-year-old lass nailed her first victory in the age-group at the SportExcel grand finals at Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur recently.
The second-seeded Aika came from a game down to end the gallant run of another emerging talent, Nur Syazwani Atiqah from Kelantan, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 in the final.
Based on her inspiring performance, Aika has also earned herself a place to compete in the girls’ Under-13 section at the Hong Kong Junior Open from Aug 12 to 16. that gets under way today and ends on Aug 16.
Champions: (From left) Aika Azman, Michelle Wong, Choy Siew Foong, Samuel Kang, Bexter Maphil Jap and Muhd Hannan Tarmidi Saad showing their medals after emerging the winners in their respective categories.
Tournament co-ordinator Christopher Brodie said Nur Syazwani was a surprise finalist when the 12-year-old overturned the formbook to score a victory over top seed Micky Lee Yi Woon of Sarawak in the semi-finals.
“Although Nur Syazwani had a favourable path at the top half of the draw to move to the semi-finals, she showed her character in a gruelling encounter that went down to the wire before prevailing in a nail-biting five games to upstage the favourite,” he added.
Meanwhile, Singaporean Samuel Kang also came good in his third final appearance to emerge the boys’ Under-19 champion in the absence of the top two Malaysian junior contenders.
Mohd Zul Azri Azhar was on national duty at the world junior meet while Selangor’s Darren Subramaniam was nursing an injury.
Earlier in the series, Kang had shown his consistency to finish as runner-up in the second and fourth legs.
The recent three-day meet drew a total of 82 players, including five players from Japan, the Philippines and Singapore, in six categories – boys’ Under-15, boys’ Under-17, boys’ Under-19, girls’ Under-15, girls’ Under-17 and girls’ Under-19.
Brodie, who is also the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) athlete development manager, acknowledged that the players in the national set-up were products of the SportExcel circuit since it was introduced as an initiative to complement the national association’s junior development programme in 1993.
“Foreign junior players have been joining the circuit to gauge their strength against our youngsters as the Malaysians in the field are providing them with stiffer competition.
“It is also a good chance for us to monitor the progress of the young talents who are coming through the ranks.
“A player winning in a category for two legs in a row will be promoted to the next age-group,” Brodie said, adding that Hong Kong were considering joining the circuit next year.
RESULTS (all finals)
BOYS’
Under-15: Muhd Hannan Tarmidi Saad (BJSS/Negri Sembilan) bt Hui June Hoe (Selangor) 11-7, 11-8, 11-4
Under-17: Bexter Maphil Jap (Sarawak) bt Mark Low (Selangor) 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
Under-19: Samuel Kang (Singapore) bt Mohd Addeen Idrakie (BJSS/Selangor) 16-18, 11- 8, 11- 3, 11-1
GIRLS’
Under-15: Aika Azman (Kedah) bt Nur Syazwani Atiqah (Kelantan) 7-11,11-7,11-9,11-8
Under-17: Michelle Wong (Sarawak) bt Nattasha Ariffin (Penang) 11-9, 12-10, 11-8
Under-19: Choy Siew Foong (Perak) bt Lim Jee Nee (Penang) 7-11, 11- 5,11- 6, 11-5
HK outing for Aika
By NG WEI LOON
(source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/8/13/central/4480167&sec=central#)
AFTER showing her promise at this season’s CIMB junior squash circuit, Aika Azman from Kedah has gained promotion and stepped up to feature in girls’ Under-15 section of the SportExcel series.
Having had to settle for second best in the age-group at the preceding two legs, the 12-year-old lass nailed her first victory in the age-group at the SportExcel grand finals at Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur recently.
The second-seeded Aika came from a game down to end the gallant run of another emerging talent, Nur Syazwani Atiqah from Kelantan, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 in the final.
Based on her inspiring performance, Aika has also earned herself a place to compete in the girls’ Under-13 section at the Hong Kong Junior Open from Aug 12 to 16. that gets under way today and ends on Aug 16.
Champions: (From left) Aika Azman, Michelle Wong, Choy Siew Foong, Samuel Kang, Bexter Maphil Jap and Muhd Hannan Tarmidi Saad showing their medals after emerging the winners in their respective categories.
Tournament co-ordinator Christopher Brodie said Nur Syazwani was a surprise finalist when the 12-year-old overturned the formbook to score a victory over top seed Micky Lee Yi Woon of Sarawak in the semi-finals.
“Although Nur Syazwani had a favourable path at the top half of the draw to move to the semi-finals, she showed her character in a gruelling encounter that went down to the wire before prevailing in a nail-biting five games to upstage the favourite,” he added.
Meanwhile, Singaporean Samuel Kang also came good in his third final appearance to emerge the boys’ Under-19 champion in the absence of the top two Malaysian junior contenders.
Mohd Zul Azri Azhar was on national duty at the world junior meet while Selangor’s Darren Subramaniam was nursing an injury.
Earlier in the series, Kang had shown his consistency to finish as runner-up in the second and fourth legs.
The recent three-day meet drew a total of 82 players, including five players from Japan, the Philippines and Singapore, in six categories – boys’ Under-15, boys’ Under-17, boys’ Under-19, girls’ Under-15, girls’ Under-17 and girls’ Under-19.
Brodie, who is also the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) athlete development manager, acknowledged that the players in the national set-up were products of the SportExcel circuit since it was introduced as an initiative to complement the national association’s junior development programme in 1993.
“Foreign junior players have been joining the circuit to gauge their strength against our youngsters as the Malaysians in the field are providing them with stiffer competition.
“It is also a good chance for us to monitor the progress of the young talents who are coming through the ranks.
“A player winning in a category for two legs in a row will be promoted to the next age-group,” Brodie said, adding that Hong Kong were considering joining the circuit next year.
RESULTS (all finals)
BOYS’
Under-15: Muhd Hannan Tarmidi Saad (BJSS/Negri Sembilan) bt Hui June Hoe (Selangor) 11-7, 11-8, 11-4
Under-17: Bexter Maphil Jap (Sarawak) bt Mark Low (Selangor) 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
Under-19: Samuel Kang (Singapore) bt Mohd Addeen Idrakie (BJSS/Selangor) 16-18, 11- 8, 11- 3, 11-1
GIRLS’
Under-15: Aika Azman (Kedah) bt Nur Syazwani Atiqah (Kelantan) 7-11,11-7,11-9,11-8
Under-17: Michelle Wong (Sarawak) bt Nattasha Ariffin (Penang) 11-9, 12-10, 11-8
Under-19: Choy Siew Foong (Perak) bt Lim Jee Nee (Penang) 7-11, 11- 5,11- 6, 11-5
No comments:
Post a Comment