Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva Stuns World No. 22 to Reach Squash Quarter-Finals
Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva Pulls Off Biggest Victory of His Career
Kuala Lumpur, March 6 (Bernama) – Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva pulled off the biggest victory of his career when he stunned world number 22 Abdulla Al-Tamimi of Qatar to reach the men’s quarter-finals of the 2025 New Zealand Squash Open today.
Sanjay, a world number 65, played the game of his life to stun the eighth-seeded Qatari 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6 in a 54-minute second-round clash at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch.
Reward for Making Silver-Level Quarter-Final
His reward for making his first-ever silver-level quarter-final in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour is a date with compatriot and third seed Ng Eain Yow, who brushed aside New Zealand’s Oliver Dunbar 11-4, 11-1, 11-3 in just 32 minutes.
Sanjay’s Strategy
"I’ve not had the chance to play against many of the top 50 players. This is the first time I’ve played against Abdulla and he’s the highest-ranked player that I’ve beaten, so far," Sanjay told the PSA website. "Like me, he too prefers to play a lot at the front. I had to just try and keep it a bit more basic, a bit more straight. Sometimes, when I get nervous, I would attack the front way too early and make a lot of errors."
Malaysian Women’s Second-Round Clashes
Meanwhile, in the all-Malaysian women’s second-round clash, world number seven S. Sivasangari had to toil for five sets before prevailing 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 over Aira Azman.
Sivasangari’s quarter-final opponent will be Egyptian Rowan Elaraby, who ousted American Marina Stefanoni 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 in the second round. Their head-to-head record favours the Egyptian, who leads 4-3.
Rachel Arnold’s Quarter-Final Opponent
Malaysia’s other woman representative, Rachel Arnold cruised into the quarter-finals after eliminating Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yi 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 in a 32-minute battle. World number 19 Rachel, who is gunning for her second PSA Silver title of the 2024-25 season after lifting the China Open crown in October, faces an acid test in the last eight as she will be up against Egypt’s world number eight Amina Orfi, who is also the second seed.
Conclusion
Sanjay Jeeva’s historic win is a significant achievement for the 65th-ranked player, and he will look to capitalize on his momentum as he takes on fellow Malaysian Ng Eain Yow in the quarter-finals. Sivasangari and Rachel will also have their hands full as they face stiff opposition in the women’s quarter-finals.
FAQs
- What is the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour?
The PSA Tour is a professional squash tournament that features top players from around the world. - Who is Sanjay Jeeva?
Sanjay Jeeva is a Malaysian squash player who is currently ranked 65th in the world. - Who is Ng Eain Yow?
Ng Eain Yow is a Malaysian squash player who is currently ranked third in the world. - Who is Amina Orfi?
Amina Orfi is an Egyptian squash player who is currently ranked eighth in the world.