England’s Josh and Nada take bronze in KL
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
Top seeds Low Wee Wern and Yip Tsz Fung triumphed in the ninth World University Squash Championships which came to a climax in the Nicol David Arena at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur today.
Malaysian Low, a student at KDU Penang University in Penang, reached the final of the women’s individual event without dropping a game – overcoming compatriot Nazihah Hanis in the semi-finals.
The 26-year-old former world No.5, who resumed her studies while recovering from knee surgery, faced second seed Tong Tsz-Wing in the final.
Tong, the world No.50 from Hong Kong and a student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, brushed aside surprise opponent Nada Elkalaawy, a 5/8 seed from Great Britain, in the other semi.
The final was the Asian pair’s fourth international meeting since 2008, with the Malaysian boasting an unbeaten record. Tong drew level after Low took the opening game – but the Penangite, currently ranked 27 in the world, regained the upperhand to close out the match 11-3, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 after 49 minutes to win the gold medal for Malaysia for the first time in 10 years.
“I’m feeling good for the country that I managed to end Malaysia’s wait for a gold medal since 2006,” said the jubilant Low (pictured above, centre, at the women’s medal ceremony). “The situation demanded careful play and against a resilient Tong who has shown good ability to adapt to situations in this championship. I had to be sharp. Tong gave me a good fight in this final.”
The men’s final was also a Malaysia/Hong Kong affair – in which favourite Yip Tsz Fung denied Malaysia a rare championship gold double by defeating KL-based Ivan Yuen in straight games.
World No.53 Yuen, a student at Universiti Putra Malaysia, was a 3/4 seed and secured his unexpected place in the final after upsetting second-seeded Briton Joshua Masters in the semis.
But City University of Hong Kong student Yip, who had only beaten Yuen once before, stormed through to his anticipated victory – winning 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 in 34 minutes to become Hong Kong’s first men’s gold medallist in the event’s 20-year history.
“It’s all going well so far for me and my team in the WUSC,” said the modest 22-year-old world No.44 (pictured above, centre, during the men’s medal ceremony). “We’ll see how it goes in the team event tomorrow,” added Yip.
Bronze medals were awarded to semi-finalists Nazihah Hanis (MAS), Nada Elkalaawy (GBR), Wong Chi Him (HKG) and Joshua Masters (GBR).
Hosts Malaysia, the second seeds received a bye in the mixed team event and are due to play the winners of the tie between Switzerland and China in the quarter finals. Top seeds Hong Kong also have a bye and will play the winners of the Australia vs Pakistan tie in the last eight.
World University Squash Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Men’s quarter-finals
[1] Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt [5/8] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 11-3, 13-11, 11-6 (34m)
[3/4] Wong Chi Him (HKG) bt [5/8] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 9-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (59m)
[3/4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Yeung Ho Wai (HKG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (39m)
[2] Joshua Masters (GBR) bt Martin Mosnik (SLO) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (27m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt [3/4] Wong Chi Him (HKG) 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 (42m)
[3/4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt [2] Joshua Masters (GBR) 11-7, 12-10, 12-14, 11-5 (52m)
Final:
[1] Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt [3/4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (34m)
Women’s quarter-finals
[1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [9/16] Li Dongjin (CHN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (26m)
[3/4] Nazihah Hanis (MAS) bt [5/8] Hwayeong Eum (KOR) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (24m)
[5/8] Nada Elkalaawy (GBR) bt [3/4] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 5-11, 11-4 (42m)
[2] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt [9/16] Gu Jinyue (CHN) 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5 (44m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [3/4] Nazihah Hanis (MAS) 11-5, 7-5 ret. (24m)
[2] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt [5/8] Nada Elkalaawy (GBR) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (24m)
Final:
[1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [2] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) 11-3, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 (49m)
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