THE Penang boys gave a particularly strong account of themselves in the 19th PBA Penang (Malaysia) Junior Open 2023 when they clinched two titles at the Nicol David International Squash Centre yesterday.
They won the Boys Under-11 title through Kayvern Arthur and Under-17 title through Nickhileswar Moganasundharam, while fellow teammate, Ivan Chang Jia Yu narrowly missed out on the Under-15 title in the tournament that was held from June 20 to 25.
Promising Nickhileswar, 15, who was playing at a higher category, beat fellow Penangite Muhammad Amirul Aqil Mohd Zaidi 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-8) in a closely contested Under-17 final.
The win serves as a significant confidence boost for Nickhileswar as he gears up to represent Malaysia in the upcoming World Junior Championship scheduled to be held in Melbourne from July 18 to 29.
Kayvern, on the other hand, had to go full distance before beating China’s Liu Yuan Xi 3-2 (11-4, 11-7, 2-11, 8-11, 11-4) for the Under-11 gold medal.
Ivan Chang Jia Yu came close to winning Penang’s third gold medal but after a hard fought battle against Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz (SRAM/Kedah) in the Under-15 final, lost narrowly at 2-3 (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 12-14).
The Penang girls fell just short of the finals, losing their semi-final matches in the Under-17 and Under-15 categories.
The coveted Boys and Girls Under-19 titles were won by Harith Danial from Sarawak and Sehveetrraa Kumar from Kedah respectively. Both champions are based in Bukit Jalil with the national setup.
The annual tournament, which was an Asian Squash Federation (ASF) Platinum event, attracted a total of 683 of the best junior squash players within the region and beyond.
Some of the foreign participants came from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, USA and Wales.
Squash Rackets Association of Penang (SRAP) president Datuk Linda Geh said the tournament provided a platform for the nation’s junior players from Under-11 to Under19 level to compete on the international stage against some of the best junior players in the region.
“The participation of parents and coaches throughout the week also adds to the atmosphere and continues to serve to grow the squash community.
“This tournament would not have been possible without the great work by our organising committee, officials, and volunteers. SRAP would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners, as well as the participants who have given their best throughout the tournament,” Geh said.
RESULTS (Finals)
Boys U-19:
Final: Harith Danial Jefri (SRAM/Sar) bt Low Wa-Sern (SRAM/Prk) 3-1 (10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9).
3rd/4th placings: Yujin Ikeda (Jpn) bt Tho Wei Yan (Pen) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-8).
Boys U-17:
Final: Nickhileswar Moganasundharam (Pen) bt Muhammad Amirul Aqil Mohd Zaidi (Pen) 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-8).
3rd/4th placings: Kreethi Pillay Muniswaran (SRAM/Pen) bt Renshi Makino (Jpn) 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9).
Boys U-15:
Final: Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz (SRAM/Ked) bt Ivan Chang Jia Yu (Pen) 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12).
3rd/4th placings: Shu Takahashi (Jpn) bt Erwin Kros Christopher (Sel) 3-2 ( 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6).
Boys U-13:
Final: Lokkhesh Wigneswaran (Negri) bt Lester Leong Zhang Hao (Sar) 3-1 (16-14, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8).
3/4th placings: Yaalvennathan Ravi Kumar (FT) bt Jayden Loo Wu Ze (Sar) 3-2 (6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 12-10).
Boys U-11:
Final: Kayvern Arthur (Pen) bt Liu Yuan Xi (Chn) 3-2 (11-4, 11-7, 2-11, 8-11, 11-4).
3rd/4th placings: HIsshan Nair Tan (NS) bt Shayan Samtani (Sin) 3-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 12-10).
Girls U-19:
Final: Sehveetrraa Kumar (SRAM/Ked) bt Thanusaa a/p Uthiran (SRAM/Mel) 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-6).
3rd/4th placings: Akari Midorikawa (Jpn) bt Leung Ka Huen (Hkg) 3-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12).
Girls U-17:
Final: Chueng Tsz Ching (Hkg) bt Doyce Lee Ye San (SRM/Sab) 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-4).
3rd/4th placings: Ena Kwong (Hkg) bt Whitney Isabelle Wilson (SRAM/Pen) 3-2 (7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9).
Girls U-15:
Final: Helen Tang (Hkg) bt Chloe Lo Pui Yin (Hkg) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-8).
3rd/4th placings: Yek Rui Jean (Pen) bt Nurul Nisa Nasuha Md Nazir (SRAM/Ked) 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 13-11).
Girls U-13:
Final: Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan (Prk) bt Yoga VArunayview (Prk) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-6).
3rd/4th placings: Choo Yi Xin (Ked) bt Kayla Choy (Sin) 3-2 (11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-9).
Girls U-11:
Final: Yin Zi Yuan (Chn) bt Maisarah Khairul Nizam (Ter) 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-4).
3rd/4th placings: Avantikashrii Seenivaagame (Sel) bt Nurul Nisa Najihah (Ked) 3-0 (15-13, 11-2, 11-2).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of Squash Racquets Association of Penang