Squash: Nicol, Azlan cruise, Beng Hee struggles
By : Devinder Singh

NICOL David and Azlan Iskandar cruised into the quarter-finals but Ong Beng Hee struggled to get past a qualifier in the first round of the CIMB Malaysian Open at the Jalan Duta squash courts yesterday. World No 1 Nicol was all business as she trounced compatriot Tricia Chuah 9-2, 9-1, 9-5.

Nicol was never really troubled by Tricia as the top seed showed no ill-effects of a three-month mid-season break. "I started off well and was hitting the ball very well. But when I stepped off the gas a little she started to hit winners and I cannot afford to be doing that," she said after a 19-minute workout.

Nicol next plays Egyptian Omenya Abdel Kawi, who ended Sharon Wee's campaign with a 9-6, 9-0, 9-2 win while another Malaysian, Lim Yoke Wah, fell 9-2, 9-2, 9-5 to Vicky Botwright of England.

Nicol's closest rival Natalie Grinham of Australia also secured a comfortable win over England’s Alison Waters while World No 3 Rachel Grinham dropped the first game against Engy Kheirallah of Egypt before taking the next three games.

RESULTS - Women: Nicol David (Mas) bt Tricia Chuah (Mas) 9-2, 9-1, 9-5; Omneya Abdel Kawi (Egy) bt Sharon Wee (Mas) 9-6, 9-0, 9-2; Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt Engy Kheirallah (Egy) 6-9, 9-0, 9-6, 9-3; Vicky Botwright (Eng) bt Lim Yoke Wah (Mas) 9-2, 9-2, 9-5; Kasey Brown (Aus) bt Madeline Perry (Ire) 8-10, 8-10, 9-0, 9-5, 9-7; Tanie Bailey (Eng) bt Rebecca Chiu (HK) 9-2, 9-1, 9-7; Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt Shelley Kitchen (NZ) 9-3, 9-3, 9-3; Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt Alison Waters (Eng) 9-6, 9-0, 9-1.

Source: NST, 26-Jul-2007