KUALA LUMPUR: Chan Yiwen's dream of playing in next month's World Squash Championships in Cairo has come true.
The fourth seed won the Asian Qualifier today by beating national teammate K. Sehveetrraa 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 in the Asian Qualifier women's final at the NSC Courts.
However, in the men's final, national No. 2 Addeen Idrakie lost to Japan's top seed Ryunosuke Tsukue 11-9, 11-8, 11-3.
Sixteen men and 16 women played in the Asian Qualifier and only the winner of each category qualified for the World Championships.
World No. 79 Yiwen, who stunned world No. 69 and top seed Cheng Nga Ching of Hong Kong in the semi-finals, said: "My dream came true to play in the biggest tournament on earth - the World Championships in Cairo."
Last year, Yiwen failed to qualify for the world meet after losing to compatriot Yasshmita Jadish Kumar in the final of the qualifying tournament in Chicago.
"I was devastated for almost a year but this time I made sure that nothing will stop me from winning the final.
"I trained hard and won the Hong Kong Challenge Cup in February and also did well in tournaments in Australia. I was more confident this year."
Meanwhile Addeen said he was distracted with the referee's decision in one rally which went against him.
"If I had won the first set, things could have changed. But it happens in matches. I gave my best but it was just not my day."