Squash: Malaysia down hosts Hong Kong to win Asian Team Champs
- Updated: June 15, 2014
Vanessa Raj, Delia Arnold, Low Wee Wern and Nicol David celebrate Malaysia’s victory in the women’s Asian Team Championships in Hong Kong. Photo: SportAsia.
June 15, 2014: Malaysia won the women’s Asian Team Championships for the first time since 2008 by beating hosts Hong Kong 2-0 in the final, with World No. 1 Nicol David sealing the victory with a 3-1 (11-3, 11-2, 7-11, 11-6) victory over stand-in Hong Kong No. 1 Joey Chan.
World No. 7 Low Wee Wern beat Liu Tsz-ling 3-0 (11-5, 11-2, 11-7) in the first match against Hong Kong, who played the biennial tournament without Annie Au after the World No. 9 withdrew with an injury on Tuesday.
Malaysia – also represented by Delia Arnold and Vanessa Raj – lived up to their billing as top seeds at the Hong Kong Squash Centre, winning 3-0 in each of their Pool A games against Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Singapore.
Malaysia then beat defending champions India 2-0 in the semi-finals, with David defeating World No. 10 Dipika Pallikal 3-0 and Arnold beating Anaka Alankamony 3-0 in the battle of the third strings.
World No. 1 Nicol David beat Joey Chan to secure Malaysia’s 2-0 win over Hong Kong. Photo: Hong Kong Squash.
David, 30, missed the last Asian Team Championships in Kuwait two years ago and marked her return with a tournament-winning victory over Chan, but had to survive a spirited fightback by the World No. 22, who lifted home hopes by winning the third game.
“It was a good week and I think our team were really prepared,” said David, who has been World No. 1 for over eight years. “We came in strong and played a good final today. Even without Annie, Hong Kong are still a tough team and we knew we had to play our best games.
“I really came out strong against Joey. At the beginning, I think she didn’t find her length as much as she did in the later part of the game and once she started feeling a bit better on the court, she’s pretty dangerous, especially with the home crowd supporting her. I was playing well and I just had to be a bit sharper at the end of the fourth game to close it out.”
Hong Kong, champions in 2010, were seeded third, but pulled off a surprise and crucial win over second seeds India in the group stage after Chan twice came from behind to beat Pallikal 3-2 following Tong Tsz-wing’s 3-2 win over Alankamony. The hosts eventually topped Pool B and avoided playing Malaysia in the semi-finals.
Hong Kong’s Liu Tsz-ling, Eunice Tong Tsz-wing, Joey Chan Ho-ling and Vanessa Chu Man-yee finished runners-up even without star player Annie Au Wing-chi.
Hong Kong reached the final by beating Japan 2-0, with Chan beating Misaki Kobayashi 3-0 and third string Tong Tsz-wing beating Satomi Watanabe 3-1. Head coach Tony Choi was delighted with his charges, who impressed in the absence of their top player.
“We are really happy with the women’s team. They achieved what we expected. Getting a silver medal is outstanding. Unfortunately, Annie was forced to withdraw at the last minute, so to still come second without her really means a lot. The players deserve a lot of credit,” Choi said.
“Joey played superb this week as No. 1 and as team captain. To upset Dipika was fantastic and getting a game off Nicol earns a lot of respect. In the long run, there is a benefit for players like Liu Tsz-ling and Tong Tsz-wing and gives them self-belief, knowing they can survive without the top player. It helps build up their confidence.”
Choi also said the tournament acted as great preparation for the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, which starts in September.
“This tournament has given us good information ahead of the Asian Games. This is like a pre-Asian Games, so has given good information for the coaches and players about other teams and their ability. I think it will be tough for anyone to beat Malaysia, but nothing is impossible in sport.”
