Mohd Syafiq Kamal (right).
KUALA LUMPUR -- National squash player, Mohd Syafiq Kamal is gunning to enter the main draw in the 2018 Malaysian Open Squash Championships slated to be held from July 17-22 at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.
The world number 78, who was selected to represent the country at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games next month following his stellar performance at the recent 34rd National Squash Championships, is hoping to continue his fine form in the US$35,000 (RM141,453) tournament.
“My goal is to get past the qualifiers and make the main draw of the Malaysian Open. I know I have a chance and I’m just focusing on my game plan in order to play some good squash,” Mohd Syafiq was quoted as saying in the statement issued by Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) today.
Besides Mohd Syafiq, other national players who had to play in the qualifying round are Mohd Addeen Idrakie Muhd Bahtiar, Ryan Pasqual, Ong Sai Hung, Mohd Farez Izwan and Darryl Gan.
Reigning national squash champions Ivan Yuen, Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan and former world junior champion, Ng Eain Yow, have got direct entry into the main draw in the tournament.
Yuen, however, will meet Mohd Nafiizwan in the opening round which is the repeat of the National Squash Championships final which saw the former emerged victorious for the second straight time.
Eain Yow, on the other hand, will take on the seventh seed, Chris Simpson of England in the opening round encounter.
In the women’s event, former world number five, Low Wee Wern who is back adter a 20-month injury layoff, will spearhead Malaysian players challenge in the qualifying round.
Other players are Aika Azman, Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi, Noor Shadira Othman, Angie Ooi, Yee Xin Ying, M. Kiroshanna and Ma Si Yi.
Newly-crowned national champion S. Sivasangari, Rachel Arnold and Nazihah Hanis Abd Razak will start from the main draw.
National squash queen, Datuk Nicol David who is the eight-time Malaysian Open winner, decided to skip the tournament to focus on the preparation of the Asian Games.
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