Asian meet top seed Rachel gets a shot at redemption in Kuching
PETALING JAYA: National squash player Rachel Arnold has a chance to erase a four-year bitter disappointment at the Asian Championships when the tournament starts on Tuesday in Kuching, Sarawak. The world No. 19 Rachel clearly has not forgotten how close she came to becoming the Asian champion for the first time in 2021. Then she fought hard but let slip a good chance when she lost to Hong Kong's Tong Tsz Wing in the women's final in Pakistan.
National head coach Ajaz Azmat believes Rachel has been on a good trajectory heading to Kuching, after making it to the Squash On Fire Open finals in April.
Her only recent blemish was being handed an upset at the British Open last month when she fell to world No. 34 Kenzy Ayman of Egypt in the opening round.
"Rachel has been doing well. It was just at the British Open that she fell off slightly,' said Ajaz.
"But she is determined to do well in the Asian Championships in her home country. It will also be important for her to do well to maintain her top 20 rankings."
Rachel is the top seed for the Asian meet after compatriot S. Sivasangari and Japan's Satomi Watanabe withdrew from the tournament.
World No. 7 Watanabe and world No. 8 Sivasangari won't be competing in Kuching as they got their spots to play in the PSA World Tour Finals in Toronto, Canada, from June 23-27.
Watanabe was initially the top seed while Sivasangari was second. National coaching director Andrew Cross also echoed Ajaz's sentiment on Rachel's chance this year.
"She's the top seed, and I'm sure she will be in good shape to compete with a hope of winning her first Asian title," he said.
The last Malaysian to be Asian champion was Nicol David in 2015, when she defeated Hong Kong's Annie Au in Kuwait.
Other Malaysians gunning for the title also include the Azman sisters, Aira and Aifa, who are second and fifth seed, respectively.
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