Beng Hee hopes for better luck in the Year of the Rat
KUALA LUMPUR: National No 2 Ong Beng Hee failed to win a single Professional Squash Association (PSA) title last year. And he’s hoping that this year – the Year of the Rat – will bring him better luck, starting with the Kolkata Open from Feb 5-8. A victory at the Kolkata Open will also be the perfect gift for the world No 16, who will turn 28 on Monday. Beng Hee is seeded second behind team-mate and world number 15 Mohd Azlan Iskandar, who is the top seed. Beng Hee knows that all eyes will be on him following his barren outing last season. “I did not play in any competitions last month. I was also supposed to spar with Pakistani player Majid (Khan) but it failed to materialise,” said Beng Hee. “I have only been training for the last one month but I will go all out to win the Kolkata Open. “A good outing in the Kolkata Open will definitely boost my confidence ahead of my bid for a fifth consecutive Asian Championships title in Kuwait (from Feb 13-21), where I expect yet another showdown with Azlan in the final.” Beng Hee won his first Asian title in Hong Kong in 2000, the second and third in Kuala Lumpur in 2002 and 2004 and his fourth in Taiwan two years ago. Malaysia created history in Taiwan when they bagged the double – the individual and team titles – and Beng Hee’s hoping for a repeat this time. “I don’t think the Pakistani players will pose much of a threat in the individual event but we can expect a stronger challenge from them in the team event,” said Beng Hee. Besides Beng Hee and Azlan, the other members of the national team for the Asian Championships are Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan and Mohd Asyraf Azan. The four featured in the World Team Championships in Chennai last December, finishing a creditable fifth.
KUALA LUMPUR: National No 2 Ong Beng Hee failed to win a single Professional Squash Association (PSA) title last year. And he’s hoping that this year – the Year of the Rat – will bring him better luck, starting with the Kolkata Open from Feb 5-8. A victory at the Kolkata Open will also be the perfect gift for the world No 16, who will turn 28 on Monday. Beng Hee is seeded second behind team-mate and world number 15 Mohd Azlan Iskandar, who is the top seed. Beng Hee knows that all eyes will be on him following his barren outing last season. “I did not play in any competitions last month. I was also supposed to spar with Pakistani player Majid (Khan) but it failed to materialise,” said Beng Hee. “I have only been training for the last one month but I will go all out to win the Kolkata Open. “A good outing in the Kolkata Open will definitely boost my confidence ahead of my bid for a fifth consecutive Asian Championships title in Kuwait (from Feb 13-21), where I expect yet another showdown with Azlan in the final.” Beng Hee won his first Asian title in Hong Kong in 2000, the second and third in Kuala Lumpur in 2002 and 2004 and his fourth in Taiwan two years ago. Malaysia created history in Taiwan when they bagged the double – the individual and team titles – and Beng Hee’s hoping for a repeat this time. “I don’t think the Pakistani players will pose much of a threat in the individual event but we can expect a stronger challenge from them in the team event,” said Beng Hee. Besides Beng Hee and Azlan, the other members of the national team for the Asian Championships are Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan and Mohd Asyraf Azan. The four featured in the World Team Championships in Chennai last December, finishing a creditable fifth.