Azan In Home Title Triumph
by Howard Harding
31 January 2012 - Muhd Asyraf Azan prevailed in the predicted all-Malaysian final of the NSC SRAM Series No2 to win the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 squash title at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
It was after overcoming Kuwait's Bader Al Hussaini, the fourth seed, in the semi-finals that top seed Azan lined up against fellow countryman Elvinn Keo in the final.
Second seed Keo had been taken the full distance in the other semi-final before eventually surviving in 67 minutes against third-seeded Welshman Peter Creed.
But that match clearly took its toll on 23-year-old Keo as Azan, the world No65 from KL, cruised to an 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 victory in 28 minutes to claim the second Tour trophy of his career - and the second at his country's national centre.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 SRAM NSC Series No2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1st round:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt [Q] James Huang (TPE) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4
[Q] Aamir Khan (UAE) bt Kam Hing Choong (MAS) 12-10, 11-8, 11-9
[Q] James Earles (ENG) bt Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) 6-11, 14-12, 12-10, 12-10
[4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt Affeeq Abedeen Ismail (MAS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5
[3] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 13-11, 11-4, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8
Josh Cardwell (AUS) bt Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-3
Nathan Lake (ENG) bt Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5
[2] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt [Q] Mohammed Yaquop Hajeyah (KUW) 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6
Quarter-finals:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt [Q] Aamir Khan (UAE) 11-4, 12-10, 13-11 (24m)
[4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [Q] James Earles (ENG) 3-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Josh Cardwell (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (36m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt [4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 11-9, 11-9, 1-11, 11-4 (46m)
[2] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt [3] Peter Creed (WAL) 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8 (67m)
Final:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt [2] Elvinn Keo (MAS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (28m)
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