KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are just one match away from winning the Asian Squash Championships women’s team gold in Pakistan.
Malaysia, represented by their second team, outplayed South Korea 3-0 on Friday to record their third win and will face top seeds Hong Kong in the fourth and final round robin match at Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad on Saturday.
Against Korea, U. Thanusaa beat Boram Ryoo 11-5, 11-7, 11-3, Yee Xin Ying defeated Hwayeong Eum 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8 and Yasshmita Jadish Kumar outplayed Mingyeong Heo 11-4, 11-1, 11-1.
Malaysia earlier downed Iran and Pakistan with identical scores of 3-0.
Hong Kong are represented by the same team that lost 2-1 to Malaysia in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games final
last month.
Hong Kong, led by world No. 24 Chan Sin Yuk, also recorded three wins and will start as favourites.
World No. 54 Yasshmita said that Hong Kong are a strong team.
In the men’s competition, Malaysia, also fielding their second team, upset second seeds Hong Kong 3-0 to top the group stage on Thursday.
But third seeds Malaysia lost 2-1 to South Korea in the semi-final, and settled for the bronze medal.
Duncan Lee lost the opening match to Seojin Oh 1-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 before Joachim Chuah levelled the scores with a 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 win over Jeongmin Ryu. But Siow Yee Xian went down to Jooyoung Na 8-11, 11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6 in the deciding match.