KUALA LUMPUR: A young Malaysian team lead by seasoned campaigner Delia Arnold defeated India 2-0 in the final to win a record ninth women's title at the Asian Team Squash Championships in Taipei on Sunday.
National junior S. Sivasangari gave Malaysia a 1-0 lead after beating Sachika Ingale 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 before Delia sealed victory by overcoming Joshna Chinapp 9-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9.
"We have done it!! @Khairykj @AtletMalaysia @Pelapis Asian champs it is!!! #thankyouharimaumuda," an elated national coach Ong Beng Hee posted on Twitter.
Victory was achieved without the services of eight-time world champion Nicol David and former World No 5 Low Wee Wern with the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia looking to blood the country's emerging talent.
The squad, which includes Rachel Arnold and Teh Min Jee, ended the tournament unbeaten in five ties with Malaysia having also defeated India 2-1 in the preliminary round.
The women's team began the tournament as the defending champions after winning the 2014 edition but were only seeded third behind Hong Kong and India.
With the latest triumph, the Malaysian women's team have now won 30 of 32 ties since the 2012 Asian Team Championships with the two defeats coming at the hands of England at the World Team Championships.
The men's team, however, could only finish fifth in the absence of national No 1 Nafiizwan Adnan to equal the country's worst performance at the tournament in 1990.
Malaysia downed South Korea 2-0 in the fifth-sixth playoff with Ivan Yuen avenging an early surprise defeat to Ko Young-jo with an 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 win after national junior Ng Eain Yow had beaten You Jae-Jun 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6.