Malaysia dominate quarter-final berths at Asian Individual Squash Championships
Top seed Rachel Arnold had little trouble dispatching Japan's Risa Sugimoto in straight games, winning 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
The 29-year-old is set to face China's Tong Tsz Wing, who earlier defeated Singapore's Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-4, 11-6, 11-7.
Also recording a comfortable victory was Aira Azman, who overwhelmed Japan's Boram Ryoo 11-1, 11-3, 11-4. Aira is scheduled to face fellow Malaysian Yee Xin Ying in tomorrow's last eight. Earlier, Yee beat another Japanese opponent, Erisa Sano, 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7.
Aifa Azman also secured her place by defeating Chan Sin Yuk of China 11-3, 11-5, 11-5. She will next face another Chinese player, Lee Ka Yi.
Another Malaysian player, Ainaa Amani, extended the women's team's excellence by defeating Japan's Akari Midorikawa 11-3, 11-3, 11-6. Ainaa is set to meet Ho Tze Lok in another quarter-final tie.
Meanwhile, in the men's category, Joachim Chuah advanced to the last eight after a hard-fought five-game battle against Pakistan's Noor Zaman, winning 11-3, 11-3, 3-11, 10-12, 11-2. Joachim will face India's Velavan Senthilkumar next.
His teammate, Ameeshenraj Chandaran, also earned a convincing win, defeating India's Suraj Chand 5-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 to book a meeting with top Qatari seed, Abdulla Al-Tamimi.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) head coach, Shahril Shahidan expressed confidence in the growing maturity of the young Malaysian players in high-intensity matches.
'In the women's category, we have strong hopes, especially with Rachel as the top seed.
'As for the men's matches, they are expected to be more intense, but I believe in the physical ability and fighting spirit of our young players. Our hope is for them to remain consistent,' he told Bernama.
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