KUALA LUMPUR: Ainaa Amani Ampandi proved that she is still one of the best women's players in Malaysia by winning the Ace Challenger Tour 12k tournament at Jalan Duta Squash Centre today.
Ainaa overcame Egypt's world No 101 Hana Ismail 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 in the final in 35 minutes.
World No. 57 Ainaa, who was left out of the Asian Games squad last year and the Road to Gold Fast Track programme, said this win showed that she is still a top player.
"At the start of the season I was competitive with the top three female players in the country. Now with this win, I proved something… I'm still here, as good as I was before and maybe even better.
Last year, she won the Hong Kong Challenge Cup and Vikram Goyal Open in India.
Ainaa, 22, said switching to a new training programme has paid off for her. "It's been a struggle behind the scenes, it has been ups and downs. Plus I'm a student, so I need to balance studies and training.
"Before this season started, I sat down with my coaches and discussed a new training regime like the ones that the top players are on," added Ainaa who will head to the United States in October to play a few tournaments. She hopes to break into the world's top 40 by the end of the year.
In the men's final, India's S. Velavan defeated Noor Zaman of Pakistan 11-5, 11-6, 11-9.