KUALA LUMPUR: It was a day to cherish for Penang youngster Lim Jee Nee.
The 16-year-old had the opportunity to take on Malaysian squash queen Nicol David in the first round of the National Championships at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Although the Penangite lost 2-11, 7-11, 8-11, it was a valuable lesson which Jee Nee hopes will stand her in good stead in the future.
“I was really excited going up against Nicol. It was my first time playing against her and she really gave me a lesson in running after the ball,” said the student of SMK Convent Green Lane, the same school Nicol attended.
But it was a good experience and I hope to do better in the future.”
World No.1 Nicol was full of praise for Jee Nee, who is 12 years her junior.
“It was good to get on court and play against another Penangite after the mid-season break,”said Nicol.
“I knew her when she was really young and now she has grown up and playing some really good squash.
“She managed to put together a few good rallies and that’s a really encouraging sign. She just needs to keep up the hard work to become a better player.”
Nicol, who is looking to defend her title in the Nationals, faces current top junior player Tan Yan Xin in the quarter-finals.
Yan Xin defeated Nessrine Ariffin 12-10, 11-6, 11-4.
“The Nationals is tougher than it looks because there are (Low) Wee Wern and Delia (Arnold) who will looking to win. I just hope to do well and take it one match at a time as this tournament will serve as a good warm-up for the Malaysian Open,” said Nicol.
It was business as usual for the elite players as Wee Wern, Delia and Siti Munirah Jusoh won their matches in convincing fashion.
In the men’s event, Asian champion Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan had to work hard before prevailing 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 over Sanjay Singh Chal.
He will face Ivan Yuen, who beat Affeeq Abedeen 11-6, 11-2, 11-7, in the quarter-finals today.
The top two seeds - Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee - were given a first round bye.
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