KUALA LUMPUR: Ng Eain Yow is in high spirits for the US$50,000 (RM228,000) Malaysian Open which begins tomorrow at the National Squash Centre after stunning world No 2 Paul Coll of New Zealand in the Singapore Open last week.
The world No 24 will open his campaign against Leandro Romiglio of Argentina but his biggest challenge should come in the second round against world No 11 and second seed Joel Makin of Wales.
Eain Yow, who won the 2019 Malaysian Open, lost to Makin in their last four meetings. And he went down 3-1 to Makin in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open.
However, the 24-year-old said last week was a good one for him as he upstaged Coll 3-2 in the
Singapore Open second round.
"However, I need to put that aside as last week is last week. This week will be another challenge for me," said Eain Yow.
"I have to reset myself and make sure I focus from the first round onwards. If I can play my best like I did last week then I can beat anyone.
"If I get through the first round, I should face Makin. I'm getting closer and closer everytime I play him.
"Last week I felt I was physically and mentally off a bit playing Makin after a tough five-setter against Paul.
"But this week I will be fresher and have a better idea and a game plan against Makin."
The other Malaysian men taking part are Syafiq Kamal, Ivan Yuen, Addeen Idrakie and Malaysia Games
champion Ong Sai Hung.
Tarek Momen of Egypt, who won the world title in 2019, is the top seed in the men's division.
Aifa Azman will find it tough to defend her title in the women's category in the presence of world No 9 Olivia Fiechter of the US who is the top seed. England's Commonwealth Games champion Georgina Kennedy is seeded second.
World No 24 Aifa, who got a first round bye, said: "I hope to give my best in the second round against either Zeina Mickawy of Egypt or teammate Ainaa Amani."
Veteran Low Wee Wern, making a comeback after a year, will face wild card Chan Yiwen in the first round. The other Malaysian woman in the fray is Yee Xin Ying.