KUALA LUMPUR: This year’s Malaysian Open Squash Championships will be a mini preview of next month’s Indonesia Asian Games.
The tournament, at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil on July 17-22, will see four of the top five ranked Asian players in the draw.
They are Qatari Abdulla Al Tamimi and Hong Kong trio Max Lee, Yip Tsz Fung and Leo Au, who is defending champion. Other big names include France's Lucas Serme, England’s Chris Simpson and Wales’ Joel Makin.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) director of coaching Major (Rtd) S. Maniam believes Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Nafiizwan Adnan or newly-crowned national champion Ivan Yuen can go all the way and win it.
Unfortunately, the duo have been drawn to face each other in the opening round in what will be a rematch of the National Championships final. Ivan is in strong form at the moment having won three tournaments in a row.
"Hong Kong, who are our rivals at the Asian Games, have their top three players each in the men and women’s events, so it will be a good test for our team," said Maniam yesterday.
"Ivan is currently playing some top class squash at the moment. However, he will need to be at his best to win the tournament.
"Unfortunately, we were unlucky in the draw and he will play Nafiizwan in the opening round. May the best man on that day win and go on to have a strong tournament, we believe both players have the potential to win it."
Nicol David will be giving the tournament a miss to focus on preparing for the Asian Games, leaving newly-crowned national champion S. Sivasangari, who is also the defending champion, to lead Malaysia’s charge together with former World No 5 Low Wee Wern.
They will face a competitive field which includes Egypt’s former World No 4 Omney Abdel Kawy and Hong Kong’s Liu Tsz Ling, Ho Tze Lok, Tong Tsz Wing and Lee Ka Yi.
"It is too early to expect much from Wee Wern as she has just returned from an injury. Sivasangari is an up-and-coming youngster who has the potential to upset one or two players. She is aggressive and can take the ball and put it away when the opportunity arises," added Maniam.
Sivasangari and Nicol as well as Nafiizwan and Ivan have confirmed their slots for the individual events at the Asian Games.
With the support of MRCB Foundation, the tournament will see an increase in prize money and ranking points this year.
The prize money for the men’s event has been increased from US$25,000 (RM100, 386) to US$35,000 (RM140,549) while the women's event will offer US$15,000 (RM60,226) from US$10,000 (RM40,150) last year.
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