KUALA LUMPUR: All the eight Malaysian challengers easily won their opening matches at the Asian Individual Squash Championships in Hong Kong today.
The Malaysians, who received a first round bye, appeared fresh and hungry in the second round.
In the men's category, top seed Ng Eain Yow breezed past India's Sandeep Jangra 11-3, 11-2, 11-5.
The world No 17, who is looking to be the first Malaysian since Azlan Iskandar (2008, 2010) to successfuly defend his title, will meet homester Matthew Lai in the third round.
Veteran Ivan Yuen, who is seeded joint third, was also a class act when he downed David Pelino of the Philippines 11-2, 11-2, 11-1.
However, the 32-year-old will have a tricky third round, going up against South Korea's Na Jooyoung.
Joint fifth seeds Addeen Idrakie and Syafiq Kamal also lived up to expectations as they beat Navid Maleksabet of Iran and South Korea's Lee Dongjun respectively.
In the women's category, Malaysia are looking to youngster Aifa Azman to regain the title that was last won by eight-time world champion Datuk Nicol David in 2015. And world No 29 Aifa showed her intent by demolishing Thailand's Anantana Prasertratanakul 11-3, 11-6, 11-1.
The Kedahan will, however, need to be at her best in the third round against Indian rising star Anahat Singh.
The trio of Rachel Arnold, S. Sivasangari and Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi also won their matches with ease.
Joint third seed Rachel ousted South Korea's Eum Hwayeong 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 while Sivasangari and Ainaa took out South Korea's Song Dongju and Thailand's Waritsara Chujit respectively.
National assistant head coach Andrew Cross said: "It was definitely a good start and they all did what they needed to do today although there will be tougher matches tomorrow.
"Some of them, in particular Aifa, Ivan, Addeen and Syafiq will have real tricky matches, and they will need to be on their toes."
