KUCHING: Young national squash star Aira Azman made light work of the early rounds at the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), breezing past Sabah's Amber Kristy Muyou at the Sarawak Squash Centre here today.
Representing Kedah, the 20-year-old, recently crowned national champion, strolled over her 14-year-old opponent with an easy 11-2, 11-2, 11-1 victory.
Joining Aira in the quarter-finals are Sehveetrraa Kumar (Kedah), Whitney Isabelle Wilson (Sarawak), and Yasshmita Jadishkumar (Negeri Sembilan).
Aira will next face Nor Adibah Ja'afar (Pahang), while Sehveetrraa meets Najwa Zara Mohd Fakhrur of the Federal Territories (FT), and Whitney Isabelle and Yasshmita take on Xin Ying Yee (Sabah) and Yu Jie Chen (Negeri Sembilan) respectively in the quarter-finals scheduled for tomorrow.
In the men's draw, national player Joachim Chuah, representing FT, impressed with a decisive 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 win over Kedah's Muhammad Haiqal Hazim Syarudin, setting up a quarter-final clash with Sarawak's Hi Jia Rong.
Also making his mark was Perak's Low Wa Sern, who defeated Terengganu's Addin Iqwan Hilman to face Ishant Shah of Penang next, while Negeri Sembilan's Ameeshenraj Chandaran and Shamiel Haeyzad Sharulhisam will play Praviin Jeva (FT) and Muhammad Amir Amirul Azhar (Kelantan) for a semi-final spot.
In mixed doubles, eight pairs have secured their spots in the top 16, including FT's Pradeep Dev Prakash-Puteri Rania Zahirah Mior Ahmad Nazril and Hashvind Kugan Thirugnanam-Ayesha Rania Syed Humaiyun Kebir.
Other pairs advancing are Anil Prakash-Abhita Shanraj Shanmuganathan (Negeri Sembilan), Tristan Andreas Muyou Angkaus-Doyce Ye San Lee (Sabah), Yi Jie Choo-Muhammad Shauqi Haliim Ahmad (Kedah), Natasha Jae Yee Lim-Ivan Jia Yu Chang (Penang), Eugenia David-Altamis Aqhar Sallam Haji A Sufian (Sarawak), and Wen Min Ooi-Izz Nabil Iman Shahrizan Azrol (Perlis). — BERNAMA