Delia wants to break into top 30 by year’s end
KUALA LUMPUR: National woman squash player Delia Arnold (pic) has set herself an ambitious target for the next six months. The 22-year-old Kuala Lumpur lass, who is ranked 42nd in the world, hopes to break into the top 30 by the end of the year. Delia knows it’s going to be a real challenge but declared she’s up for it. “I need to start improving on my rankings to be the third-ranked player in the national team,” said Delia, whose father Raymond is the Kuala Lumpur coach. “I have only won two Wispa titles – NSC Satellite and Pakistan Satellite – since turning professional five years ago and I am not pleased with my performance. I need to start doing well in tournaments to improve my rankings.” Delia, who is currently the fifth ranked player in the Malaysian team behind world No. 1 Nicol David, Sharon Wee (world No. 19), Tricia Chuah (31st) and Lim Yoke Wah (41st), is hoping to go for a three-month overseas stint to help her achieve her target. “I went to England to train under coach Malcolm (Willstrop) for six weeks in April but it’s not good enough,” said Delia. “I need a three-month training stint to improve my game.” She added that she also needs to play at least six tournaments in the next six months to be able to break into the top30. Her next assignment is the NSC Super Satellite No. 2, which starts on Tuesday. Delia will face South Korea’s Park Eun-ok in the first round. She is tipped to face second seed Joshna Chinappa of India in the quarter-finals.
KUALA LUMPUR: National woman squash player Delia Arnold (pic) has set herself an ambitious target for the next six months. The 22-year-old Kuala Lumpur lass, who is ranked 42nd in the world, hopes to break into the top 30 by the end of the year. Delia knows it’s going to be a real challenge but declared she’s up for it. “I need to start improving on my rankings to be the third-ranked player in the national team,” said Delia, whose father Raymond is the Kuala Lumpur coach. “I have only won two Wispa titles – NSC Satellite and Pakistan Satellite – since turning professional five years ago and I am not pleased with my performance. I need to start doing well in tournaments to improve my rankings.” Delia, who is currently the fifth ranked player in the Malaysian team behind world No. 1 Nicol David, Sharon Wee (world No. 19), Tricia Chuah (31st) and Lim Yoke Wah (41st), is hoping to go for a three-month overseas stint to help her achieve her target. “I went to England to train under coach Malcolm (Willstrop) for six weeks in April but it’s not good enough,” said Delia. “I need a three-month training stint to improve my game.” She added that she also needs to play at least six tournaments in the next six months to be able to break into the top30. Her next assignment is the NSC Super Satellite No. 2, which starts on Tuesday. Delia will face South Korea’s Park Eun-ok in the first round. She is tipped to face second seed Joshna Chinappa of India in the quarter-finals.