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Hafiz upsets favourite for a spot in final

KUALA LUMPUR: The form book had the name of Darren Pragasam written all over it. That was until Hafiz Zhafri Harif deleted it from the Malaysia Games squash men's individual semi-finals.

Kedahan Hafiz, seeded joint third-fourth, toppled top seed Darren of Negri Sembilan to storm into the final.

Hafiz, who was stretched to five sets by Sabah's Duncan Lee in the quarter-finals on Sunday, played exceptionally well to win 15-13, 11-8, 11-6 in 37 minutes at the National Squash Centre today.

He will now face his Kedah teammate and second seed Ong Sai Hung in the final today. Sai Hung eliminated Negri's Sanjay Jeeva 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 in the last four.

Hafiz, the world No 155, said he did not expect to beat the 96-ranked Darren in straight sets. "I'm delighted. This is the first time I beat Darren in a competition.

"I had played Sai Hung a few times, but I only beat him once. He will start at the favourite but I will go all out to create another upset," said Hafiz, who has yet to win a medal in two Games.

In the women's competition, joint third-fourth seed Aira Azman of Kedah advanced to the final.

Aira, however, came back from the brink of defeat to beat joint fifth-eighth seed Wen Li Lai of Sabah 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2 in 49 minutes.

Aira will take on second seed Chan Yiwen in the final.

In the semis, Yiwen's opponent, joint third-fourth seed, Ainaa Amani of Federal Territories gave a walkover due to shin injury.

Yiwen, 22, said she has been playing consistently well, and is looking forward to her first individual title in the Games.

"I played in the final in the last Games in Perak in 2018 but lost to Aifa Azman.

"The pressure will be on me as I am the second seed this time," said Yiwen who won the team gold in the Sarawak Games in 2016.

RESULTS

S-FINALS

Men's singles: Hafiz Zhafri Abdul Harif (Ked) bt Darren Pragasam (NS)15-13, 11-8, 11-6; Ong Sai Hung (Ked) bt Sanjay Jeeva (NS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-8;

Women's singles: Aira Azman (Ked) bt Wen Li Lai (Sab) 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2; Chan Yiwen (FT) bt Ainaa Amani (FT) walkover.

Mixed doubles: Harith Danial-Nathalie Sim (Swk) bt S. Sunil Kumar-N. Shasmithaa (Sel) 11-5, 11-3; Nathan Tze Bing Kueh-Mah Si Yi (Swk) bt C. Ameeshen Raj-Nur Maisara Mohd Azlan Shah (NS) 11-8, 11-5.

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