Top seeds Low Wee Wern and Yip Tsz Fung triumphed in the 9th World University Squash Championships which came to a climax in the Nicol David Arena at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Low, a student at KDU Penang University in Penang, reached the final of the women’s individual event without dropping a game – overcoming compatriot Nazihah Hanis in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old former world No.5, who resumed her studies while recovering from knee surgery, faced second seed Tong Tsz-Wing in the final.<\/p>\n
Tong, the world No.50 from Hong Kong and a student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, brushed aside surprise opponent Nada Elkalaawy, a 5\/8 seed from Great Britain, in the other semi.<\/p>\n
The final was the Asian pair’s fourth international meeting since 2008, with the Malaysian boasting an unbeaten record. Tong drew level after Low took the opening game – but the Penangite, currently ranked 27 in the world, regained the upperhand to close out the match 11-3, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 after 49 minutes to win the gold medal for Malaysia for the first time in 10 years.<\/p>\n
“I’m feeling good for the country that I managed to end Malaysia’s wait for a gold medal since 2006,” said the jubilant Low (pictured above, centre, at the women’s medal ceremony). “The situation demanded careful play and against a resilient Tong who has shown good ability to adapt to situations in this championship. I had to be sharp. Tong gave me a good fight in this final.”<\/p>\n
The men’s final was also a Malaysia\/Hong Kong affair – in which favourite Yip Tsz Fung denied Malaysia a rare championship gold double by defeating KL-based Ivan Yuen in straight games.<\/p>\n
World No.53 Yuen, a student at Universiti Putra Malaysia, was a 3\/4 seed and secured his unexpected place in the final after upsetting second-seeded Briton Joshua Masters in the semis.<\/p>\n
But City University of Hong Kong student Yip, who had only beaten Yuen once before, stormed through to his anticipated victory – winning 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 in 34 minutes to become Hong Kong’s first men’s gold medallist in the event’s 20-year history.<\/p>\n
“It’s all going well so far for me and my team in the WUSC,” said the modest 22-year-old world No.44 (pictured above, centre, during the men’s medal ceremony). “We’ll see how it goes in the team event tomorrow,” added Yip.<\/p>\n
Bronze medals were awarded to semi-finalists Nazihah Hanis (MAS), Nada Elkalaawy (GBR), Wong Chi Him (HKG) and Joshua Masters (GBR).<\/p>\n
Hosts Malaysia, the second seeds received a bye in the mixed team event and are due to play the winners of the tie between Switzerland and China in the quarter finals. Top seeds Hong Kong also have a bye and will play the winners of the Australia vs Pakistan tie in the last eight.<\/p>\n
RESULTS: World University Squash Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<\/p>\n
Men’s quarter-finals
[1] Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt [5\/8] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 11-3, 13-11, 11-6 (34m)
[3\/4] Wong Chi Him (HKG) bt [5\/8] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 9-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (59m)
[3\/4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Yeung Ho Wai (HKG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (39m)
[2] Joshua Masters (GBR) bt Martin Mosnik (SLO) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (27m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt [3\/4] Wong Chi Him (HKG) 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 (42m)
[3\/4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt [2] Joshua Masters (GBR) 11-7, 12-10, 12-14, 11-5 (52m)
Final:
[1] Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt [3\/4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (34m)<\/p>\n
Women’s quarter-finals
[1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [9\/16] Li Dongjin (CHN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (26m)
[3\/4] Nazihah Hanis (MAS) bt [5\/8] Hwayeong Eum (KOR) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (24m)
[5\/8] Nada Elkalaawy (GBR) bt [3\/4] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 5-11, 11-4 (42m)
[2] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt [9\/16] Gu Jinyue (CHN) 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5 (44m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [3\/4] Nazihah Hanis (MAS) 11-5, 7-5 ret. (24m)
[2] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt [5\/8] Nada Elkalaawy (GBR) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (24m)
Final:
[1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [2] Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) 11-3, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 (49m)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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