Tsz-Wing Fells Arnold to Capture Penang Open Crown by Sean Reuthe June 6, 2016
- Hong Kong’s Tong Tsz-Wing lifted her first PSA World Tour silverware
of 2016 after coming through a tough five-game encounter with home hope
Rachel Arnold in the final of the IJM Land 4th Penang Women’s Open, PSA
W5 tournament.
Arnold, the World No.62, had advanced to the
final after prevailing over another player from Hong Kong, Lee Ka Yi,
in the last four, while number two seed Tsz-Wing had swept to the final
without losing a game.
It was the first time the pair had
met in the final of a PSA World Tour event since the Malaysian Tour
Squash V almost a year ago, with Tsz-Wing triumphing on that occasion
too. This time the duo were facing off in the prestigious Nicol David
International Squash Centre, named after the eight-time World Champion
and Malaysian icon herself.
Arnold had the better of the
early exchanges and went a game to the good before a resurgent Tsz-Wing
battled pack to take two games without reply.
A nail-biting
tie-break in a gruelling fourth game then went in Arnold’s favour as
she clawed a game back to level proceedings. Fatigue began to take its
toll on Arnold though as her performance dropped in the fifth and final
game, and Tsz-Wing took full advantage as she romped to victory for the
loss of just three points to complete a 7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-3
win to capture the third PSA World Tour title of her career to date.
“I am happy to win, Rachel gave me a great match like our matches previously," said Tsz-Wing.
"I would love to come back to Penang for this tournament again.”
Result - Final: IJM Land 4th Penang Women’s Open 2016
