Women's Final:
(2) Rachael Arnold (Mas) 3-2 (4) Jemyca Aribado (Phi)
             8-11, 111, 5-11, 11-2, 18-16 (51m)

3rd/4th  (1) Tong Tsz Wing (Hkg) (3) Sachika Inggale (Ind)
                   11-5, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8 (38m)
 
Men’s Final:
(2) Harinderpal Sandhu (Ind) 32 (4) Alex Lau (Hkg)
           11-7, 11-4, 12-14, 10-12, 11-5 (61 m)

3rd/4th  (3) Elvinn Keo (Mas) 3-2 (1) Ivan Yuen (Mas)
                     11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 9-6 (Rtd)

Arnold and Sandhu take the Thai titles

It was full house at the Championship Court at the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel, Pattaya, Thailand. Besides the Thai squash fans in Pattaya, the many squash enthusiast who made their way from Bangkok, the expatriate squash community in Thailand there were also the many hotel guest who all came to witness the finals (the hotel is the biggest in Thailand with 4200 rooms).

The evening started with the women’s finals and long time regional rivals, #2 Rachael Arnold and #4 Jemyca Aribado took to the courts with loud applause from the crowd. Jemyca took the first game where she played to length and kept the ball tight to the wall. Rachael came back strongly and took the second game with some power play.

The fiery Jemyca forced Rachael into many unforced errors to take the game. Rachael again came back strongly to take the fourth. It was tight all the way in the fifth and at deuce the fans were entertained to a nail-biting exciting finish with Jemyca having two match points and Rachael finally taking the championship title on her seventh match point. The crowd stood to acknowledge the superb entertaining match.

The men took the court for the finals and in a match spiced with comical antics by Harinderpal Sandhu and well supported by Alex Lau the crowd were entertained to good squash with amazing retrievals. Harinder prevailed to take the match in the fourth game.

The prize presentation was well organized with well arranged backdrops of the sponsors and photo images of the players. Harinderpal in his victory address on behalf of all the players thanked the sponsors and Thailand Squash Rackets Association for a meticulously organized championship starting with the flawless reception at the airport, to a well organized championship and most of all the ever smiling and exceptional hospitality of the Thais. He echoed the sentiments of all the players to come back in 2018.

The title sponsors Singha Corporation are the largest beer brewery in Thailand and there was free flow of beer for the fans during the finals.

Overall and for first timers, the Thailand Squash Rackets Association can be very proud for having organized and arranged a championship that would equal the many good championship organized around the world.

All players and officials would leave Thailand with fond memories of a good championship and the exceptional hospitality of the Thais.
 

30-Sep, Day TWO, Evening Session, Semi-Finals:
Shock Exit of both top Seeds

Women's Semis:

[4] Jemyca Aribado (Phi) 3-2 [1] Tong Tsz Wing (Hkg)
              6/11, 11/7, 10/12, 12/10, 11/6 (62m)
[2] Rachael Arnold (Mas) 3-0 [3] Sachika Ingale (Ind)
             11/2, 11/2, 11/6 (18m)

Men's Semis:

[4] Alex Lau (Hkg) 3-0 [1] Ivan Yuen (Mas)
              12/10, 11/8, 11/8 (40m)
[2] Harinderpal Sandhu (Ind) 3-2 [3] Elvinn Keo (Mas)
               11/7, 11/4, 12/14,.10/12, 11/5 (61m)

The evening semi-final matches were all played on the Championship Court.

The women semis kicked off the evening and the first match was between #1 Tong Tsz Wing and #4 Jemyca Aribado. The match turned out to be a thriller and was just reward for the fans that had turned out early. The games see-sawed between the two and in the fourth Tong Tsz Wing held match point but the never say die Jemyca fought to take the game. In the decider a dejected Tong Tsz Wing was no match to the fired-up Jemyca.

The second women’s semi between #2 Rachael Arnold and #3 Sachika Ingale was a tame affair with Rachael romping home in three.

The first men’s semi between top seed Ivan Yuen and #4 Alex Lau was an anti-climax. Yuen never found his rhythm throughout the match while Alex Lau was deadly and won many points with his drops. The match to the surprise of the fans finished in three games.

The second men’s semi between #2 HarinderPal Sandhu and #3 Elvinn Keo brought back the excitement for the fans when the match went all the way to the fifth.

In easily the most exciting match of the evening played in the true spirit of sportsmanship the players not only played their hearts out but also entertained the crowd with much friendly banter and antics, with Sandhu finally prevailing in five games.

Morning Session, Quarter-Finals:

The championship came to life with some tough quarter-final matches in the men’s draw.

Second seed HarinderPal Sandhu was stretched all the way before overcoming #7 Valentino Bong. Bong played well above himself but one too many unforced errors in the fifth brought his gallant run to an end.

Another interesting quarter-final was between #4 Alex Lau and #12 Samuel Kang. Lau showed why he was higher seeded by taking the first two games. Not to be brushed aside, Kang came back strongly to take the next two games. The fifth was close all the way to the end until Kang hit the tin twice consecutively to give the match to Lau.

In the women’s draw, #4 Jemyca Aribado had a tough quarter-final match against #5 Au Yeong Wai Yhann. Jemyca prevailed in the fourth to reach the semi-finals alongside the top three seeds, #1 Tong Tsz Wing, #2 Rachael Arnold and #3 Sachika Ingale, who all had comfortable wins.
 

Men's Draw & Results

Women's Draw & Results

SINGHA SQUASH THAILAND
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2017

Thailand Squash Rackets Association (TSRA) is organizing their biggest ever squash event, the ‘Singha Squash Thailand Open Championship 2017’, from 29th Sept 1st Oct. 2017.

The Championships has a 32 draw for men and a 16 draw for women. This championship is being staged at Pattaya which is a world renowned beach resort city. All matches will be played at the Ambassador City Jomthien Hotel which has extensive sports facilities including eight squash courts with glass-back walls.



Entries for the championships were announced through Facebook, via the Asian Squash Federation and also the Southeast Asian Squash Federation. Besides entries from Thailand there were good entries from neighboring countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Indonesia including an entry from Brazil.

Ivan Yuen (Malaysia), PSA ranking 40, is the top seed for Men, while Harinder Pal Singh, PSA ranking 66, is the 2nd seed. In the women’s draw, Tong Tsz Wing (Hong Kong), PSA ranking 47 is the top seed with Rachael Arnold (Malaysia) as the 2nd seed.

The total prize money is $7K and all players are given free accommodation with meals at the 5-Star Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel.

According to TSRA Secretary General, Mr.Akarin Hiranprueck, they intend to grow and make bigger, over the coming years, this first ever Thailand Open. Whilst moving towards making it a PSA event they would also in parallel host a championship for non-PSA players as these players make up the bulk in Southeast Asia.

Day ONE Report:

In the first Round of the Men’s draw the top two seeded players had byes, and all the remaining matches went according to seeding with no upsets.
In the Women’s Draw there were only three first round matches, and here too all matches went according to seeding.

In the evening session the top two seeds, #1 Ivan Yuen and #2 Harinder Pal Sandhu easily sailed through their matches. However, there were some close calls for the other seeded players with #3 Elvinn Keo coming through a tough four game match against Timorthy Leong. In the toughest match of the evening #8 Muhammad Ezzri Nazri overcame #9 Sandap Jangra in a nailing biting fifth game.
 

Women's Draw
& Results

Men's Draw
& Results