Malaysians Excel In Kuala Lumpur Open Qualifiers

Five Malaysians fought their way through today's qualifying finals to earn places in the Country View Kuala Lumpur Open at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil, Malaysia.

Nafzahizam Adnan beat fellow Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 11-7 11-10 2-11 11-6 in 46 minutes to find himself drawn against top seed Shamsul Islam Khan in the first round. Khan is expected to face compatriot Yasir Butt, the second seed, in Sunday's men's final.

Tricia Chuah led home successes in the women's qualifying tournament, beating fellow countrywoman Sally Looi 9-4 9-4 9-4 in 25 minutes. Chuah is also rewarded with a draw against the event favourite - in this case Malaysia's world No4 Nicol David, runner-up in the WISPA World Tour event last year.

Four-times a finalist in the event, David won the KL title in 2000 and 2002 and is expected to meet Dutch star Annelize Naude, the No2 seed, in this year's women's final.

Men's qualifying finals:
Shahril Shahidan (MAS) bt Elvinn Keo (MAS) 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 11-10 (3-1) (25m)
Nafzahizam Adnan (MAS) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-7, 11-10 (3-1), 2-11, 11-6 (46m)
Nasser B Al-Ramzi (KUW) bt Muhammad Azfar Azan (MAS) 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 10-11 (1-3), 11-7 (52m)
Mohd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Joseph Desira (AUS) 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-10 (2-0) (58m)

Women's qualifying finals:
Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Mami Nishio (JPN) 9-7, 6-9, 10-8, 9-0 (54m)
Christina Mak (HKG) bt Lee Hai-Kyung (KOR) 9-6, 9-5, 7-9, 9-4 (60m)
Tricia Chuah (MAS) bt Sally Looi (MAS) 9-4, 9-4, 9-4 (25m)
Louise Crome (NZL) bt Lim Yoke Wah (MAS) 9-1, 4-9, 10-8, 10-9 (41m)