Kiwi Makes Final At PSA Squash Event

A couple of upsets in the women’s semis, but the status quo in the men’s semis at the PSA pro squash tournaments at SquashGym Palmerston North

The men’s US$10,000 tournament final will feature the top two seeds, while the women’s semis of their US$5,000 tournament saw the top two ranked players defeated as Kiwi fifth seed Emma Millar from Hamilton and Philippines third seed Jemyca Aribado progressed in a couple of tough matches.

Millar, 27 who originally hails from Paraparaumu but spends her time in Hamilton and has had plenty of injury issues won the recent Waikato and Bay of Plenty Open’s. She defeated Australian second seed Jessica Turnbull ranked 78 in the world in four games in her semifinal, the shortest time of all of the semifinals, 40 minutes.

Millar will face Aribado in her bid for the title after the Phillippines player spent just under an hour on court to beat top seed Sarah Cardwell (Australia) ranked 58 in 52 minute.

The men’s semis had Malaysian Commonwealth Games team member Ivan Yuen having to come from two games down to beat Aussie third seed Joshua Larkin. Eventually it took one hour for Yuen to win the contest where he will now play top seed and another Commonwealth Games player Harinder Pal Sandhu of India. Sandhu beat Malaysian fourth seed Mohd Syafiq Kamal in four games.

After the Palmerston North event Millar will compete at the New Zealand National Champs this week in Henderson alongside Commonwealth Games medallists, Joelle King, Amanda Landers-Muphy and Paul Coll.

Men’s semifinals:

(1) Harinder Pal Sandhu (India) bt (4) Mohd Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia) 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8 (49m),

(2) Ivan Yuen (Malaysia) bt (3) Joshua Larkin (Australia) 7-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 (60m)

,Women’s semifinals:

(3) Jemyca Aribado (Philippines) bt (1) Sarah Cardwell (Australia) 11-5, 9-11, 11-1, 11-13, 7-11 (52m)

(5) Emma Millar (New Zealand) bt (2) Jessica Turnbull (Australia) 8-11, 11-3, 11-9. 11-7 (40m)