Malaysian Open gives Beng Hee a chance to move up

12.2.2000 By Aftar Singh PETALING JAYA

Great chance for Beng Hee to earn place in top 16 Malaysia's national number one squash player Ong Beng Hee is just one tournament away from a place in the top 16 in the world rankings. And he has a great chance to achieve it next week.

Beng Hee, who is now ranked 23rd in the world, just needs to win the OSK Malaysian Open men's championship starting Monday at the National Sports Council's (NSC) courts in Jalan Duta. If he does, he will 350 points and move straight into the top 16, well within his target this year of a place in the top 24.

Beng Hee believes he can do it. "I stand a good chance of winning, judging by the draw,'' said Beng Hee, who has been seeded third for the tournament. Beng Hee's main obstacle will be top seed and world number 12 Peter Marshall of England in the semi-finals. He will take on a qualifier in the first round and is expected to play world number 27 Lee Beachell of England in the quarter-finals.

"I have never played Peter (Marshall) before. But I'm confident of beating him. Peter has not been performing well in last few tournaments,'' said Beng Hee. "However, I cannot be overconfident,'' he quickly added.

If Beng Hee gets past Marshall, his opponent in the final is likely to be second seed Amjad Khan of Pakistan. "Amjad is a very good player as I have lost to him three times. I hope to beat him this time,'' he said. "I would like to be the first Malaysian to win the Malaysian Open since the tournament was first introduced in 1975.''

The former world junior champion was at the Astaka courts yesterday to cheer the Under-12 players, who are competing in the Ong Beng Hee trophy. "I'm really honoured that a trophy has been named after me,'' he beamed.

Malaysian Open Contenders:

Ong Beng Hee is confident.... (photo courtesy Dunlop Squash)

Peter Marshall has been struggling physically... (photo © 2000 Debra Tessier)

• Golestan Radwan: Egypt
• Tomas Barva, Czech Republic
• David Blick, Alaska USA
• Kim Tunney: Midwest USA
• Andre Maur: Atlanta USA
• Paul Ansdell: Massachusetts USA
  

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