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[last update was 19-nov-00 ]

Malaysia does without top two

11.14.00 by Malaysia Star Online

Eye Group Women's World Open Squash Championship, Sheffield England

Malaysia Team Preview

Injured Choy Lin dropped
KUALA LUMPUR: An injured Kuan Choy Lin has been dropped from the Malaysian team for the women's world team squash championships, which will be held in Sheffield, England, from Nov 19-25.

Another junior Kong Yi Zhen also failed to make the team, giving a big break to Teng Ooi Ean to feature in her first major senior tournament. The 16-year-old Ooi Ean won a place in the team by beating the more experienced Yi Zhen in recent trials.

The other players in the team are Sharon Wee, Tricia Chuah and Cheryl David and they will leave for Sheffield today. National number one Nicol David is not available to compete in the championships because she is sitting for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations.

The absence of Choy Lin and Nicol has definitely diluted the strength of the team. Malaysia have been seeded 11th but the Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia's (SRAM) executive director, Wong Ah Jit, said that it would be a good result if the team could finish among the top 16.

"Choy Lin is out and I expect our seeding to drop. The seedings are decided on the world rankings of the players,'' said Ah Jit after a flag-handing over ceremony yesterday. "Choy Lin has not recovered from a knee injury and it is unfortunate we do not have the services of Nicol. "In their absence, we expect Sharon and Tricia to come to the fore and win their matches to bring us as far as possible in the tournament.

"The last time we played in the 1996 championships, we finished 17th.'' Australia are the top seeds ahead of defending champions England. In the 1996 championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were represented by Carrie Yeo, Chow Chooi Yeen, Kong Yuen Yuen and Koh Yoke Keet.

Malaysia did not participate in the last championships in 1998 in Finland.

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