KUALA LUMPUR: Rising squash star Aira Azman is just a step away from ending the country’s 22-year drought for a title in the 2023 World Junior Squash Championships in Melbourne, Australia, today
The 18-year-old player is on the right track to emulate the country’s squash queen, Datuk Nicol David, who was the last Malaysian player to secure the women’s title as she got past Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt 9-2, 9-4, 9-2 in the 2001 edition in Penang.
Aira advanced to her first final of the tournament by downing the second seed of the tournament, Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8.
Waiting for Aira, who won the Under-15 title in 2018, are defending champion Amina Orfi or Malak Khafagy from Egypt, who will compete in another semi-final match today.
Commenting after the match, Aira said the gameplay arranged by her coach Andrew Cross really helped her advance to the final tomorrow.
“It wasn’t easy, but I gave my best just now. With a tough match tomorrow, I just want to play my best,” she was quoted as saying in a statement shared by the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM).
Aira will be performing in the final round tomorrow at noon Malaysian time. – BERNAMA
