KUALA LUMPUR: National squash champion Aira Azman defeated her elder sister, Aifa, to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in Sydney today.
It was the first meeting between the sisters from Kedah in a PSA tournament.
World No. 44 Aira upstaged world No. 35 and sixth seed Aifa 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-3 in the second round.
Aira will face top seed Salma Hany of Egypt for a place in the semi-finals tomorrow. World No. 11 Salma beat India's Akanksha Salunkhe 11-2, 11-3, 11-1.
Aira, 19, said: "I'm feeling a bit emotional today. I actually was hoping not to play my sister but it was unfortunate that the draw was done in such a way. I was hoping to play her in the final instead."
National No. 2 Rachel Arnold advanced into the last eight with a 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 win over Hong Kong's Cheng Nga Ching.
Third seed and world No. 28 Rachel will take on fifth seed Sana Ibrahim of Egypt in the quarter-finals. Sana defeated Australia Jessica Turnbull 11-7, 11-2, 11-7.
Malaysia's Chan Yiwen upset Hong Kong's seventh seed Ka Yi Lee 11-9, 13-15, 4-11, 11-6, 11-9, and will face Hong Kong's fourth seed Tomato Ho next.