IT was a solid start for Aifa Azman as she marched into the quarter-finals of the SRAM PSA 1 Championships yesterday.
After missing more than a year of Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Aifa was eager to impress in the SRAM meet that signalled the return of competitive squash in the country.
The third seed, who received a first-round bye, defeated N. Shasmithaa 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 in the second round at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.
"It was a good start to the tournament for me," said the World No 64.
"I'm very pleased that I moved well on the court after being out for so long.
"I wasn't expecting to face Shasmithaa in the second round, but she had a good first-round win, so I had to change my game plan a little.
"I'm looking forward to playing on the glass court in the quarter-finals and progress even further."
Aifa plays eighth seed Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi today.
Ainaa denied a sibling showdown by beating Aira Azman 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 13-11 in the second round.
Also safely through to the quarter-finals was second seed Rachel Arnold, who downed K. Sehveetrraa 11-4, 11-7, 11-3.
The World No 44 meets Chan Yiwen, who defeated Angie Ooi 11-6, 11-7, 11-5, in the last eight.
In the men's event, second seed Syafiq Kamal, third seed Addeen Idrakie and fourth seed Darren Rahul Pragasam all safely progressed into the quarter-finals.