Latest news with #RisaSugimoto
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
M'sia dominate quarter-final berths at Asian Individual Squash Championships
MALAYSIA continued to showcase dominance in Asian squash as five national women's players advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Asian Individual Championships at the Sarawak Squash Centre, Petra Jaya, today. 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.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia dominate quarter-final berths at Asian Individual Squash Championships
MALAYSIA continued to showcase dominance in Asian squash as five national women's players advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Asian Individual Championships at the Sarawak Squash Centre, Petra Jaya, today. 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.
New Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Rachel on course for Asian crown
KUALA LUMPUR: Top seed Rachel Arnold marched into the Asian Squash Championships quarter-finals in Kuching today. The Malaysian, seeking her first Asian title, beat Japan's Risa Sugimoto 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 in the second round at the Sarawak Squash Centre. Rachel, 29, who finished second in 2021 in Pakistan, will face Hong Kong's Tong Tsz Wing next. Fifth seed Tsz Wing beat Singapore's Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-4, 11-6, 11-7. Malaysia's Aifa Azman beat Hong Kong's ninth seed Chan Sin Yuk 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 to set up a quarter-final date with HongKonger, Lee Ka Yi. Aifa's younger sister and second seed, Aira, beat South Korean Ryoo Bo Ram 11-1, 11-3, 11-4 in the second round. She will next face compatriot Yee Xin Ying, who beat Japan's Erisa Sano 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7. However, Malaysian surprise package, Whitney Isabelle Wilson's fine run came to an end in the second round after an 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 loss to third seed Ho Tze Lok of Hong Kong. Tze Lok, who subdued Japan's ninth seed Akari Midorikawa 11-3, 11-3, 11-6, will play Malaysian Ainaa Amani Ampandi in the quarter-finals. In the men's category, Malaysia's world No. 86 C. Ameeshenraj will battle Qatar's top seed and world No. 23 Abdulla Al Tamimi in the quarter-finals. Al Tamimi beat South Korean Na Joo Young 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5 while Ameeshenraj ousted India's Suraj Chand 5-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3. Malaysian Joachim Chuah also progressed to the quarter-finals to meet India's Velavan Senthilkumar after beating Pakistan's Noor Zaman 11-3, 11-3, 3-11, 10-12, 11-2. Velavan defeated Japan's Endo Tomotaka 11-3, 11-1, 11-4. Second seed Lau Tsz Kwan of Hong Kong beat Malaysia's Duncan Lee 11-8, 4-11, 13-11, 11-1. Malaysia's fifth seed Sanjay Jeeva was upset 11-8, 3-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 by Hong Kong's ninth seed Wong Chi Him.
West Australian
29-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Japanese star keen for success at Golden Open
Japanese squash professional Risa Sugimoto is hopeful of going one better against a crack field at this weekend's annual Northern Star Golden Open. Kalgoorlie-Boulder's premier squash tournament this year features players from nine different countries who are chasing $6000 prizemoney in each of the women's and men's divisions. Sugimoto is fresh off an epic final of the South Australian Open in Adelaide, when the 30-year-old was beaten in five games by Hong Kong's Toby Tse (9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8). This week Sugimoto has focused on her recovery before her opening round on Friday, when she will have to win two games to make it through to the semifinals. 'In last week's tournament, I was lucky enough to perform better than I previously had been, making it through to the finals,' Sugimoto said. 'This week, I want to work through my fatigue and try to perform through my fatigue to allow me to perform at my best on the first day of the tournament, which is hard with two matches to win.' Sugimoto is hoping to use the Goldfields event to boost her ranking which will assist her chances in getting a call-up for the 2026 Asian Games. 'I am aiming to get my PSA ranking inside the world top-100,' she said. 'Next year I want to qualify for the Asian Games with the target of winning a medal.' The No.4 seed, Sugimoto will take on Ka Huen Leung from Hong Kong in her first round. Sugimoto is enjoying the contrast between Kalgoorlie-Boulder and her hometown Kyoto. 'It's very relaxed, very quiet (in Kalgoorlie-Boulder) and good for recovery,' she said. 'In Kyoto there is so much traffic and people everywhere.' The top-three women's seeds are Helen Tang (China), Akari Midorikawa (Japan), and Wong Po Yui Kirstie (China). Among a strong men's field, Sri Lanka's Ravindu Laksiri is the No.1 seed from Pakistan's Hamza Khan, and the Chinese duo of Wailok To and Ming Hong Tan. Queenslander Brendan MacDonald is the highest-seeded Australian at No.11. The Northern Star Golden Open gets under way on Friday from 10am at Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex and continues on Saturday and Sunday.
