Eain Yow, Sivasangari face pressure to defend Asian Games titles

KUALA LUMPUR: Expectations are high for Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari to retain their Asian Games titles in Nagoya and become the first Malaysians to earn an automatic ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

It is easier said than done, but both 28-year-old Eain Yow and Sivasangari, 27, will face intense pressure to defend their gold medals.

It is the first time squash will be held at the 2028 Olympics, with the Asian Games men's and women's individual events beginning on Sept 23.

The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) set a three-gold medal target, banking on Eain Yow and Sivasangari to finish on top of the podium.

World No. 18 Eain Yow will face the toughest challenge to retain the title because of his inconsistent performance in PSA tournaments.

Eain Yow, who received a bye in the first round, will face joint ninth seed Ryu Jeong Min of South Korea in the quarter-finals at the Asian Games.

The Kuala Lumpur-born player will face world No. 29 and third seed Noor Zaman of Pakistan in the semi-finals, and barring an upset, he should face world No. 24 Abhay Singh of India in the final.

In the Budapest Open last month, Eain Yow was top seed but was stunned by India's world No. 54 Velavan Senthilkumar in straight games in the quarter-finals.

Velavan, who won the Budapest Open title, will be competing at the Asian Games.

But at the London Classic two weeks ago, Eain Yow bounced back to upset two Egyptians, world No. 11 Aly Abou Eleinen and world No. 12 Youssef Soliman.

Eain Yow, however, lost to Soliman in the first round of Qatar Classic on Sept 12.

Sanjay Jeeva is the other Malaysian player to feature in the men's individual event.

Sivasangari, who won the Australian Open and Grasshopper Cup titles this year, has a splendid performance in PSA tournaments and looks set to retain her title.

She is expected to face either teammate and third seed Aira Azman or fifth seed Joey Chan Sin Yuk of Hong Kong in the semi-finals.

Sivasangari's main opponent for the title will be home favourite and world No. 6 Satomi Wanatabe of Japan.

Former SRAM coaching director Major (rtd) S. Maniam said Eain Yow faces a threat from Noor Zaman of Pakistan in the semi-finals.

"I would put my money on Eain Yow beating second seed Abhay for the gold.

"In the women's draw, it's a little more straightforward as Sivasangari is top seed and she is expected to win the gold.

"However, she's got Aira in the semis while the home favourite Satomi has to get past the fast-improving Indian player Anahat in the semis.

"I believe Sivasangari will meet Satomi in the final and the Malaysian would be favourite to clinch the gold," said Maniam.

In the mixed doubles, the Malaysian pair of Syafiq Kamal and Aifa Azman are expected to get through to the final.

"They have a big threat in the semis against Velavan and Joshna Chinappa. To me, this would be a very close match.

"I believe the winner has a very good chance of winning the gold. However, don't forget the second seeds Rachel Arnold and C. Ameeshenraj are waiting there and hoping to reach the finals.

"I believe Rachel-Ameeshenraj will get to the finals and will meet either Velavan-Joshna or Syafiq-Aifa for the gold.

"That would be a very close match indeed. I will favour the Malaysians to clinch the gold in mixed doubles," said Maniam.