Harleein battles through exhaustion to bag Asian Junior squash crown

KUALA LUMPUR: Harleein Tan lived up to her billing by winning the girls’ Under-17 Asian Junior Squash Championships title in Panzhihua, China on Sunday.

The Negri Sembilan player was gasping for air due to the high altitude venue but she did well to come back from a game down to beat third seed Anika Dubey of India 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-4 in 40 minutes in the final.

It was Harleein’s third Asian Junior title as she won the Under-13 and Under-15 crowns previously. She was also a silver medallist in Under-15 and Under-17 last year.

The 16-year-old Harleein said: “It was a high-altitude venue with less oxygen. I found myself gasping for air, but all I wanted was to deliver gold for my country.

“Indian and Pakistani players have better endurance to the heat and high altitude.

“I just kept playing even though my body was giving up. My fellow Malaysians at the venue kept me going.

“I am grateful to my parents, coaches, and everyone who supported me. Without the cheers, it would have been tough,” said Harleein, who had a splendid year as she won the Rotterdam Open, a PSA Tour title in March.

She will feature in the PSNS President’s Trophy in Seremban from June 17-21 before the World Junior Championships in Ontario, Canada from July 20-31.

Two other Malaysians, Whitney Isabelle Wilson and Vidhurran Ruthiran, had their hopes dashed by their opponents in the final.

The third seed Kedah-born Whitney went down to second seed Helen Tang of Hong Kong in 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-3.

Penang’s Vidhurran lost the boys’ Under-15 final to top seed Ahmad Rayyan Khalil of Pakistan 11-7, 11-3, 11-4.

Last year in South Korea, Malaysia won two titles – Low Wa Sern in the boys’ Under-19 and Jinoreeka Ning in girls’ Under-15 categories.

RESULTS

Finals (Malaysian unless stated)

Boys

Under-17: Nauman Khan (Pak) bt Shiven Agarwal (Ind) 10-12, 11-7, 11-2, 11-5

Under-15: Ahmad Rayyan Khalil (Pak) bt Vidhurran Ruthiran 11-7, 11-3, 11-4

Under-13: Leung Ngo Sun (Hkg) bt Amarya Bajaj (Ind) 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6

Girls

Under-19: Helen Kang (Hkg) bt Whitney Isabelle Wilson 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-3

Under-17: Harleein Tan bt Anika Dubey (Ind) 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-4

Under-15: Ziyuan Yin (Chn) bt Mahnoor Ali (Pak) 12-10, 11-9, 12-10

Under-13: Kareena Sashikumar (Sgp) bt Rio Yoshino (Jpn) 11-2, 11-3, 11-1.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times