KUALA LUMPUR: The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) wants the current national men's top player, Ng Eain Yow, to innovate and elevate his game to a new level after landing his maiden Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour title at the 2024 German Open, yesterday (April 7).
SRAM coaching director, Major (Rtd) S. Maniam, said it is important for the world No 22 player to continue building on his performance in a bid to shine and achieve more success in the future.
"Moving forward, I hope that Eain Yow will try to look at new ways of getting his game to another level, which I think he is continuously working on," he told Bernama when contacted today (April 8).
The fourth-seeded player rose to the occasion to see off sixth seed Dimitri Steinmann of Switzerland 12-10, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3 in a thrilling final that lasted 66 minutes to capture the PSA World Tour Bronze-tier title in Hamburg.
While delighted with Eain Yow's historic victory in the finals, Maniam expressed his satisfaction with the 26-year-old's remarkable performance in the semi-final, where he upset top-seed Joel Makin of Wales in a closely fought match, 13-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, on Saturday.
He also highlighted the significance of the victory, considering Eain Yow's previous struggles against Makin, whom he had lost to in six consecutive matches.
"The match against Makin had always been a nemesis to him. That guy (Makin) was that much fitter and stronger. When you look at that many times, you begin to wonder, will Eain Yow ever beat him.
"However, Eain Yow is a fighter and he always believes he can do better every time he plays, so that kind of mental attitude is the one that made the difference. It was a tough match. It wasn't easy by any means. But it was a great, great win," he said.
The Kuala Lumpur-born player is slated to compete in the 2024 El Gouna International Squash Open in Egypt, which kicks off from April 19-26.
The 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games men's individual champion will open his Egypt's meet campaign against world No 48 Cesar Salazar of Mexico.
Eain Yow's feat in Hamburg undoubtedly added to the jubilation in Malaysian squash, following national women's top player S. Sivasangari's sensational win at the inaugural 2024 London Squash Classic just last week.
World No 13 Sivasangari delivered a stellar performance by defeating world No 2 Hania El Hammamy of Egypt, 11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 12-14, 11-8 in the final at Alexandra Palace, London.
Her phenomenal achievement at the London Squash Classic saw Sivasangari become the first Malaysian player to clinch a Gold-level PSA World Tour title since national squash legend Datuk Nicol David's victory at the 2015 Hong Kong Open. — Bernama
