Malaysia's
Muhd Asyraf Azan won the third PSA World Tour title of his career -
but his first in Japan - when he beat Leo Au, of Hong Kong, in today's
final of the Pro Squash Kansai, the PSA Challenger 10 squash event
in its second year at Entente Fitness Club in Kobe.
While fourth
seed Au made the final after his semi-final opponent retired injured midway
through their match, Azan was taken the full distance in the other semi by
fellow countryman Kamran Khan before prevailing after an 82-minute
marathon.
But the
second-seeded Malaysian was ready for another long battle - and kept Au at bay
for 76 minutes before clinching his 11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9 title-winning
victory.
Azan, the
world No69 from Kuala Lumpur, now races home to compete in the Royal Lake
Club Open in Kuala Lumpur where he is the event's No3 seed.
Koukal Crashes
To Au In Kobe
A neck injury
sustained during his sleep caused Czech favourite Jan Koukal to withdraw
midway through his match against Leo Au in today's semi-finals of the
Pro Squash Kansai in Japan.
At 11-5, 11-6
down, Koukal was unable to continue - leaving Au, the fourth seed from Hong
Kong, to march through to the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10
squash event in its second year at Entente Fitness Club in Kobe.
Celebrating
the seventh Tour final of his career, the 22-year-old world No56 will now meet
second seed Muhd Asyraf Azan.
The
23-year-old from Selangor survived a tight all-Malaysian semi-final against
third seed Kamran Khan, ultimately beating his lower-ranked compatriot
11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4 in 82 minutes to make the sixth final of his
career.
Tsukue
Stretches Koukal In Kobe
Top seed
Jan Koukal duly claimed his place in the semi-finals of the Pro Squash
Kansai in Japan - but the Czech number one was taken the full distance
before overcoming a spirited performance by local hero Shinnosuke Tsukue
in today's quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash
event in its second year at Entente Fitness Club in Kobe.
Tsukue, a
23-year-old from Kanagawa, made his breakthrough in the opening round when he
outplayed Hong Kong's higher-ranked Dick Lau.
And despite a
gap of more than 120 ranking places between the pair, the Japanese underdog took
the opening game against Koukal - then drew level after the fourth to force the
match into a decider.
But world No47
Koukal held his nerve to close out the match 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6 after
65 minutes to secure his anticipated place in the last four following the
longest match of the day.
Koukal will
now meet Leo Au, the No4 seed from Hong Kong who despatched England's
Nathan Lake 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3.
The other semi
will be the all-Malaysian affair predicted by the seedings between Muhd
Asyraf Azan and Kamran Khan.
In a match
described by the organisers as "the most comical match ever in Prosquash",
second seed Azan defeated Carlos Cornes Ribadas of Spain 11-9, 11-6,
14-12.
Third seed
Khan needed four games to see off English teenager Declan James 11-6,
6-11, 11-8, 11-8 in 64 minutes.
Tsukue Takes
Out Lau In Kansai Upset
Shinnosuke
Tsukue
provided unexpected home interest in the quarter-finals of the Pro Squash
Kansai in Japan when he upset Hong Kong's higher-ranked Dick Lau in
four games in today's opening round of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10
squash event in its second year at Entente Fitness Club in Kobe.
The
23-year-old from Kanagawa, ranked almost 100 places lower than Lau, held his
nerve to win the match 11-5, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5 in 51 minutes to set up a last
eight clash with top seed Jan Koukal.
Czech number
one Koukal, the world No47, denied the crowd an all-Japanese quarter-final after
beating qualifier Yuta Fukui, a 24-year-old from Nagoya, 11-7, 11-7,
12-10.
Fourth seed
Leo Au ensured some Hong Kong interest on the second day by beating James
Huang - but Au had to survive the longest match of the day to overcome his
Taiwan opponent 11-13, 11-5, 14-12, 10-12, 11-4 in 85 minutes.
World No57 Au
now faces unseeded Englishman Nathan Lake for a place in the semi-finals.
