KUALA LUMPUR: Addeen Idrakie will break into the top 60 next week after stunning world No. 42 Karim El Hammamy of Egypt in the first round of the World Squash Championships in Cairo on Thursday.
The world No. 65 Malaysian put up a dramatic fight to beat the Egyptian 11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9 in 87 minutes on his debut.
Addeen, 30, will face 2019 world champion and eighth seed Tarek Momen of Egypt in the second round tomorrow.
National coach Ajaz Azmat described Addeen's win over El Hammamy as amazing.
"He has done well to reach the second round on his debut at the World Championships. He should break into the top 60 next week.
"Momen is a former world champion, and Addeen needs to be on top of his game to upset the Egyptian. I believe anything is possible," said Ajaz.
However, Ajaz was not pleased with the performances of Aifa Azman and Chan Yiwen, who both suffered defeats.
World No. 37 Aifa lost 11-4, 11-3, 11-2 to No. 8 Tinne Gilis of Belgium, while Yiwen failed to get the better of Spain's Marta Dominguez, losing 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 in 40 minutes.
Ajaz said Aifa lost in just 20 minutes.
"She just switched off when she played the Belgian player. As for Yiwen, she should have performed much better against Marta," said Ajaz.