KUCHING: Malaysia won the opening game of the 9th to 16th place playoff of ITF World Tennis Junior Team Competition U14 (Girls) Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying against Iran which was held at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Centre on Thursday.
The hosts edged out the Iranians by 2-1 after three matches and secured themselves a spot in the final qualifying tournament next year, as only the bottom two will be relegated from the top 16 and will be required to play in the pre-qualifying tournament next year, just like what the hosts have been through last month in Sri Lanka in order to qualify for the tournament here.
11-year-old Adani Raihan Muhammad Azhari was first up in the tie and she defeated her opponent Alin Mohammadian Fardby 6-3, 6-2 after 99 minutes.
12-year-old Lynn Lim was unable to pose a threat against Hana Shabanpour in the second singles’ match where she lost with two sets of 1-6 after an hour.
In the all important third match, a doubles’ action, Adani Raihan Muhammad Azhari and her partner Daania Daniella Abd Hazli mounted a comeback against their opponents Asal Farahbodniai and Hana Shabanpour by 4-6, 6-2, [10-5] after super tiebreakers.
Malaysia will be facing Chinese Taipei in the next round on Friday, who won with an easy 3-0 against Lebanon.
Lin Yu Chen first swept Reina El Jessr by 6-0, 6-1 and Kao Zhi Han later demolished Kaya Chkayban with two sets of 6-1 in their respective singles’ action.
Even though Chinese Taipei have secured the tie against Lebanon, both teams still opted to play the third match as it was allowed by ITF, which was a doubles’ action, in order to give their young athletes more competitive experience.
Hua Yi En and Lin Yu Chen won that third match by 6-2, 6-4 against Carmen Maria Azar and Kaya Chkayban.
In other actions of the 9th to 16th place playoff, New Zealand and Singapore will be facing against each other in the next round after both secured 3-0 victories in their respective ties against Sri Lanka and Nepal.
The teams that have lost their respective opening ties will be dropping down to play for 13th to 16th places where Lebanon will be taking on Iran while Sri Lanka will face Nepal, with all four teams will be looking to secure the win on Friday in order to avoid relegation from the top 16.
