KUCHING: Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold admitted that the occasion and intense conditions got the better of her after falling short in the women’s final of the 23rd Asian Individual Squash Championships 2025.
The 29-year old lost 3-1 to Hong Kong’s Ho Tze Lok.
The Portuguese-Chinese lass put in a spirited performance, but ultimately could not overcome the composed and clinical Ho, who claimed the title with scores of 11-4, 10-12, 11-4, 11-0 at the Sarawak Squash Centre in Petra Jaya today.
Rachel, who hails from Kuala Lumpur, showed flashes of resilience in the second set, clawing back to win 12-10 after dropping the opener.
However, Ho stay unfazed and took control of the match, dominating the third set and closing out the fourth in commanding fashion with a emphatic 11-0 finish.
“I think the whole thing overall was okay. Bit disappointed in the finals today. The pressure was on me, and I didn’t really adapt to the court today.
“It was really hot, and I struggled with that. But she (Ho) played really well and was putting me under a lot of pressure,” said Rachel in a post-match interview.
This marks Rachel’s second career appearance in an Asian Championships final, her previous one being in 2021, where she also finished runner-up.
On that occasion, she was defeated by another Hong Kong opponent, Tong Tsz Wing, in Pakistan.
Despite the disappointment, the world No. 19 remains determined to push forward in her professional career.
“Hopefully, I’ll come back stronger. My goal is still to get a title eventually. I think I made too many errors today.
“Every time she put me under pressure, I would sort of go for it. I need to stay calm in those situations,” she said.
Rachel’s next tournament will be the National Championship in August, set to be held in Kuala Lumpur.
“That’ll be the first one for us. I’m aiming to get a better PSA (Professional Squash Association) ranking from here. The main goal is to break into the top 10,” she added.
The defeat may sting, but Rachel’s unwavering ambition and seasoned experience continue to make her one of Malaysia’s most compelling squash talents.
With a blend of heritage, grit and heart, her journey toward a major breakthrough is far from over.
For the record, the last Malaysian women to win the Asian Individual Squash Championship was Datuk Nicol Ann David in 2015.
