Korean Ahn Maintains Malaysian Momentum

Negeri Sembilan, Apr 22, 2014: Korean Eun Chan Ahn picked up her second title in Malaysia this year as a complete outsider when she defeated Norway’s Lotte Eriksen in the final of the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit No.3, the Women’s Squash Association World Tour 5 event at the Seremban 2 Sport Complex in Negeri Sembilan.

The Seoul-born 28-year-old, seeded seven, made her breakthrough in the quarter-finals where she despatched leading local hope Zulhijjah Binti Azan, the No2 seed.

After dismissing compatriot Kim Ga-Hye in the semi-finals, world No59 Ahn – now in the sixth Tour final of her career – faced Stavanger-born Eriksen, the No5 seed who was marking her second final appearance on the WSA Tour.

The pair were meeting for the first time in almost seven years – but Ahn repeated her earlier win to overcome the Norwegian 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 to notch up the fourth Tour title of her career.

RESULTS: Women’s Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit No.3, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

1st round:
[1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [Q] Aika Azman (MAS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6
Teh Min Jie (MAS) bt [8] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-13, 14-12, 11-8, 11-4
[4] Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt Pushppa Devi (MAS) 11-3, 11-7, 11-4
[5] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) bt Zoe Foo (MAS) 12-10, 11-7, 11-5
[6] Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) bt Vanessa Raj (MAS) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7
[3] Cyrielle Peltier (FRA) bt [Q] Noor Shadira Anuar (MAS) 11-3, 11-4, 11-7
[7] Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt [Q] Andrea Lee (MAS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6
[2] Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) bt [Q] Chan YiWen (MAS) 6-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2

Quarter-finals:
Teh Min Jie (MAS) bt [1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) 10-12, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6
[5] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) bt [4] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9
[6] Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) bt [3] Cyrielle Peltier (FRA) 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6
[7] Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt [2] Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9

Semi-finals:
[5] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) bt Teh Min Jie (MAS) 10-12, 13-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-7
[7] Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt [6] Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) 11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 13-11

Final:
[7] Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt [5] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) 11-5, 11-6, 11-7. —- WSF