KUALA LUMPUR: National No 1 Ng Eain Yow is finally coming good after struggling to impose himself on top-tier events earlier this year.
The 21-year-old had failed to make an impression on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour World Series events, losing in the first round of the British Open and the second round of the Tournament of Champions in New York this year.
But, the World No 32 did good this time by scoring a fine 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 6-11, 11-6 win over 30th-ranked Raphael Kandra of Germany in the second round of the Egyptian Open in Cairo today.
Fresh from his biggest career title — the Malaysian Open triumph last month, the KL lad started on the front foot and blazed into a 2-0 against the German.
Eain Yow, however, suffered a dip in concentration and that allowed the left-handed Kandra to storm back and force a deciding rubber.
But, Eain Yow kept his cool to hold off Kandra for the win in 60 minutes.
“I think it was a really tough game both physically and mentally in the first two games,” said Eain Yow from Cairo.
“I had a dip of concentration in the third and fourth games, but I managed to keep it together to take the win in five.”
Eain Yow will take on World No 59 Baptiste Masotti of France in the third round on Monday.
The Frenchman pulled off a huge upset by beating World No 9 Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia 11-7, 11-8, 11-6.
But, the onus is certainly on Eain Yow to step up and push on for his first-ever World Series quarter-final appearance.
Meanwhile, in the women’s World Championships, youngster S. Sivasangari continued to fly high after claiming her second straight upset in Egypt.
The World No 48, who stunned World No 8 Amanda Sobhy of the United States in the first round, showed grit in beating 29th-ranked Milou van der Heijden of the Netherlands 11-4, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9.
After a quickfire exchange in the first two games, the 20-year-old from Kedah showed her resolve as she scored five straight points to take the third game 12-10, before holding off a late charge by the Dutch woman for the 48-minute win.
Sivasangari takes on junior rival Hania El Hammamy of Egypt on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.
World No 11 and reigning world junior champion Hania powered past Australia’s Donna Lobban 11-6, 11-8, 11-9.