SRAM want juniors to continue to work hard
PETALING JAYA: The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) want the national juniors to continue to work hard to achieve results in major championships after a mixed outing in the British Open junior tournament in Sheffield. None of the Malaysian players reached the final of their age-group competitions and the title drought has now extended to two years. The last winner was Tan Yan Xin (pic) in the girls' Under-13 competition in 2006. In the just concluded championships, the SRAM were satisfied with the performances of four players – Low Wee Wern (girls' Under-19), Yan Xin (girls' Under-15), Yong Sue Ann (girls' Under-13) and Cheong Kah Wah (boys' Under-15). The other five players – Kamran Khan, Ivan Yuen and Ng Jo Wern (boys' Under-19) and Nesssrine Ariffin and Low Wee Nee (girls' Under-17) – failed to perform up to expectations. “It was very clear that all nations that took part had prepared very seriously for major events and we are not the only ones who are working hard,” said the SRAM president, Datuk A. Sani Karim. “Everyone expects us to produce another Nicol David in the next two or three years. But we are blessed to have players now who are considered serious threats in international tournaments. “We hope they continue to work hard to achieve results. We sent only nine players to the British Open Juniors because of budget constraints. We had an initial list of 25 and we selected only nine players. “We consider the British Open Juniors a world class event and decided to send only those who had the chance to reach at least the quarter-finals.” Wee Wern, seeded third-fourth, was beaten by top seed Camille Serme of France in the girls' Under-19 semi-finals and defeated Sina Wall of Germany 9-0, 9-1, 9-5 in the playoff for third place on Sunday. Yan Xin and Kah Wah, both seeded fifth-eighth, finished fifth in the girls' and boys' Under-15 competitions. Sue Ann, the third-fourth seed, finished fourth in the girls' Under-13 category. Serme emerged as the champion and Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy took the boys' Under-19 title. Serme defeated Annie Au of Hong Kong 7-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-3, 9-7 while Mohamed ousted French player Gregoire Marche 9-6, 9-7, 9-1 on Sunday.
PETALING JAYA: The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) want the national juniors to continue to work hard to achieve results in major championships after a mixed outing in the British Open junior tournament in Sheffield. None of the Malaysian players reached the final of their age-group competitions and the title drought has now extended to two years. The last winner was Tan Yan Xin (pic) in the girls' Under-13 competition in 2006. In the just concluded championships, the SRAM were satisfied with the performances of four players – Low Wee Wern (girls' Under-19), Yan Xin (girls' Under-15), Yong Sue Ann (girls' Under-13) and Cheong Kah Wah (boys' Under-15). The other five players – Kamran Khan, Ivan Yuen and Ng Jo Wern (boys' Under-19) and Nesssrine Ariffin and Low Wee Nee (girls' Under-17) – failed to perform up to expectations. “It was very clear that all nations that took part had prepared very seriously for major events and we are not the only ones who are working hard,” said the SRAM president, Datuk A. Sani Karim. “Everyone expects us to produce another Nicol David in the next two or three years. But we are blessed to have players now who are considered serious threats in international tournaments. “We hope they continue to work hard to achieve results. We sent only nine players to the British Open Juniors because of budget constraints. We had an initial list of 25 and we selected only nine players. “We consider the British Open Juniors a world class event and decided to send only those who had the chance to reach at least the quarter-finals.” Wee Wern, seeded third-fourth, was beaten by top seed Camille Serme of France in the girls' Under-19 semi-finals and defeated Sina Wall of Germany 9-0, 9-1, 9-5 in the playoff for third place on Sunday. Yan Xin and Kah Wah, both seeded fifth-eighth, finished fifth in the girls' and boys' Under-15 competitions. Sue Ann, the third-fourth seed, finished fourth in the girls' Under-13 category. Serme emerged as the champion and Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy took the boys' Under-19 title. Serme defeated Annie Au of Hong Kong 7-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-3, 9-7 while Mohamed ousted French player Gregoire Marche 9-6, 9-7, 9-1 on Sunday.