Seeds Slip In Commonwealth Youth Games Clashes
by Howard Harding

September 7, 2015 - While Eain Yow Ng and Sivasangari Subramaniam are still on course to provide double gold for Malaysia in Squash's debut in the Commonwealth Youth Games, a trio of lower seeds failed to claim their predicted places in the semi-finals of the fifth staging of the Games in Samoa.

Ng, a 17-year-old from Kuala Lumpur, brushed aside Scotland's Richard Hollins 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 in today's men's quarter-finals at the Tuana'imato Sports Facility in Apia. In the women's event, Subramaniam despatched Larissa Wiltshire, of Guyana, 11-4, 11-1, 11-4.

But both will meet unexpected opponents as they compete for medals. Ng takes on Velavan Senthilkumar after the unseeded Indian upset Luke Jones, a 3/4 seed from New Zealand, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6, 11-5.

Subramaniam lines up against Mihiliya Methsarani following the unseeded 17-year-old from Sri Lanka's 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 shock defeat of Mari Taylor, a 3/4 seed from England.

Pakistani Sadia Gul also secured an unexpected place in the women's medal play-offs after fighting back from a game down to beat India's 3/4 seed Harshit Jawanda 7-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-9.

England's medal hopes lie with Patrick Rooney, the No.2 seed who defeated Northern Ireland's Stephen Hearst 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 and will now meet Pakistan's 3/4 seed Israr Ahmed.

Eleanor Epke carries New Zealand's sole medal bid after beating three-time Pacific Games gold medallist Lynette Vai 9-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-7 to set up a semi-final encounter with Sadia Gul.

RESULTS: Commonwealth Youth Games Squash Championships, Apia, Samoa

Men's 1st round:
[1] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bye
Richard Hollins (SCO) bt Fook John Shackley (FIJ) 11-2, 11-1, 11-0
Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt Jason Doyle (SVG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
[3/4] Luke Jones (NZL) bt Aidan Rowston (NFK) 11-8, 11-4, 11-0
[3/4] Israr Ahmed (PAK) bt Benjamin Mekdeci (GUY) 11-6, 11-2, 11-0
Alex Eustace (AUS) bye
Stephen Hearst (NIR) bt Thomas Da Silva (GIB) 11-1, 11-5, 11-4
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Mohammed Saiful Mia (BAN) 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
Quarter-finals:
[1] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Richard Hollins (SCO) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5
Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) bt [3/4] Luke Jones (NZL) 12-10, 3-11, 11-6, 11-5
[3/4] Israr Ahmed (PAK) bt Alex Eustace (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Stephen Hearst (NIR) 11-5, 11-5, 11-3

Women's 1st round:
[1] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt Storm Walker-Glenny (NFK) 11-1, 11-1, 11-1
Larissa Wiltshire (GUY) bt Ellie McVeigh (NIR) 9-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7, 11-2
Mihiliya Methsarani (SRI) bt Carrie Hallam (SCO) 11-6, 11-1, 11-2
[3/4] Mari Taylor (ENG) bt Kimberley Galea Cauchi (MLT) 11-1, 11-3, 11-3
[3/4] Harshit Jawanda (IND) bt Susanna Armano (BER) 11-2, 11-5, 11-8
Sadia Gul (PAK) bt Rachael Gibson (AUS) 11-7, 11-2, 11-5
Lynette Vai (PNG) bt Kelsey Manuatu (SAM) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5
[2] Eleanor Epke (NZL) bt Thandi Myers (SVG) 11-5, 11-2, 11-5
Quarter-finals:
[1] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt Larissa Wiltshire (GUY) 11-4, 11-1, 11-4
Mihiliya Methsarani (SRI) bt [3/4] Mari Taylor (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-5
Sadia Gul (PAK) bt [3/4] Harshit Jawanda (IND) 7-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-9
[2] Eleanor Epke (NZL) bt Lynette Vai (PNG) 9-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-7
Men's semi-final line-up:
[1] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v Velavan Senthilkumar (IND)
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) v [3/4] Israr Ahmed (PAK)

Women's semi-final line-up:
[1] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) v Mihiliya Methsarani (SRI)
[2] Eleanor Epke (NZL) v Sadia Gul (PAK)