KUALA LUMPUR: Despite playing with an injury, Malaysia's world No. 41 Aira Azman upset Egypt's world No. 30 Hana Ramadan in the women's first round of the US$198,000 El Gouna Open in Egypt yesterday.
The 19-year-old, making her debut in the Platinum-level squash tournament, won 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10 in 58 minutes.
The third set saw Aira and Ramadan colliding, resulting in the Malaysian injured her knee. She needed a lengthy medical treatment before Ramadan won 11-9.
In a nerve-wracking fourth set, Aira saved one match ball to the cheers of her sister Aifa, who was in the stands after beating Egypt's Nour Aboulmakarim 13-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8 earlier.
Aira said: "My knee was a bit swollen but my physio is here, so I'm in good hands.
"Aifa came over right after her win, so I felt the support, and that support meant a lot to me."
Aira will face Scotland's world No. 32 Georgia Adderly while world No. 34 Aifa will meet Egyptian world No. 39 Malak Khafagy next.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia director Major (rtd) S. Maniam said: "Aira is playing well and I'm expecting her to beat Adderly to reach the next round. Aira had beaten her in five sets in the first round of the Windy City Open in Chicago in February."
World No. 28 and national No. 2 Rachel Arnold subdued England's Alicia Mead 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 to set up a date with world No. 1 Nour El Sherbini of Egypt.
World No. 13 S. Sivasangari, who won the recent London Classic, received a first round bye and will face Egypt's world No. 3 and second seed Nouran Gohar in the second round.
In the men's event, Asian champion Ng Eain Yow beat Mexico's Cesar Salazar 11-13, 11-5, 11-7, 11-2. World No. 16 Eain Yow, who won the German Open last week, will play Frenchman
Gregoire Marche next.
