Siow Yee Xian knew he had a lot to prove coming into the Ohana National Squash Championships.
The 20-year-old had certainly fallen behind in some ways after jetting off to the United States last year to further his studies at Yale University.
But in light of the Covid-19 situation, the Melakan ultimately made the decision to put his studies on hold for a year and turn his focus back to squash.
And it paid off as the Yee Xian, a quarter-finalist at last year's World Junior Championships, scored the biggest upset of the day by beating joint fifth seed Darren Chan in the second round of the men's Premier division.
Yee Xian played a patient game to score a come-from-behind 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-7 win over Darren in 72 minutes.
"After a year away in the US, I can still match up with the seniors.
"When I first came back to training a couple of months ago, I was losing in match plays to the juniors so this win shows that I'm back on track.
"Of course the matches will only get harder from here on but I am also working on my game tactics so hopefully I'll get another good game in the quarter-finals.
In the last eight, Yee Xian will go up against joint third-fourth seed Addeen Idrakie, who thumped Danial Nurhaqiem 11-4, 11-2, 11-3.
There was also no trouble for top seed Ivan Yuen and second seed Syafiq Kamal as they both eased into the quarter-finals with wins over Darryl Gan and Wee Ming Hock respectively.
In the women's Premier division, there were no upsets as second seed S. Sivasangari led the day in action. The 2018 national champion was a class above as she powered past junior U. Thanusaa 11-6, 11-1, 11-6 in the first round to set up a quarter-final clash with joint fifth-eighth seed Aira Azman.
Also easing through were joint third-fourth seeds Rachel Arnold and Aifa Azman whilst top seed and defending champion Low Wee Wern opens her account from the last eight after receiving a first round bye.
RESULTS
WOMEN — First Round: Ooi Kah Yan bt Angie Ooi 11-3, 11-6, 11-3; Chan Yiwen bt M. Kiroshanna 11-3, 11-5, 11-5; Rachel Arnold bt Yasshmita Jadishkumar 11-6, 11-8, 11-7; Aifa Azman bt Goh Zhi Xuan 11-1, 11-3, 11-9; Lai Wen Li bt K. Sehveetraa 11-6, 12-10, 5-11, 11-4; Aira Azman bt Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi 11-13, 12-10, 11-8, 11-1; S. Sivasangari bt U. Thanusaa 11-6, 11-1, 11-6.
MEN — Second Round: Ivan Yuen bt Darryl Gan 11-8, 11-6, 11-2; Asyraf Azan bt Hi Jia Rong 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3; Siow Yee Xian bt Darren Chan 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-7; Addeen Idrakie bt Danial Nurhaqiem 11-4, 11-2, 11-3; Darren Rahul Pragasam bt Hafiz Zhafri 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9; Ong Sai Hung bt Adam Agan Aziz 11-4, 11-0, 11-5; Elvinn Keo bt Amir Amirul Azhar 13-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9; Syafiq Kamal bt Wee Ming Hock 11-7, 11-7, 11-8.