Malaysia down Canada to ensure top 12 finish in World Team Squash Championship

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia have ensured themselves of a top-12 finish after staging a fightback to beat Canada 2-1 in the 9th-16th classification match of the men’s World Team Squash Championship at the Mercury Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand Friday.

Canada took a 1-0 lead when world number 39 David Baillargeon defeated 29-year-old Addeen Idrakie 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 in a closely-fought match.

However, 19-year-old C. Ameeshenraj trounced Brett Schille 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 to level the scores before Sanjay Jeeva completed the fightback by clinching the winning point when he downed Salaheldin Eltorgman 11-4, 11-7, 11-8.

Malaysia will now go into the 9th-12th classification playoffs where they will take on the Czech Republic, who had earlier beaten Nigeria 2-1 in another classification game.

Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia coaching director Major (Rtd) S. Maniam was delighted with the victory over Canada, which confirmed Malaysia would finish in the top 12.

“That was our first target with this team of backup players... so, it is a really good result.

“Addeen went down first, he did his best, his opponent is good. Then, Ameeshenraj went on. He was so fast and furious, (that) the opponent could not cope with him,” he said in an audio recording which SRAM shared with the media Friday.

According to Maniam, Sanjay's diverse playing style, combining deceptive moves and a mix of orthodox and unorthodox shots, prevented his opponent from establishing a rhythm and that led to a quick victory.

-- BERNAMA