Young Wee Wern gets national call-up
KUALA LUMPUR: Low Wee Wern (pic) will go into full swing in her squash career with the national senior team at the Asian Championships in Kuwait from Feb 13-21. The 18-year-old Penangite comes into the team as a replacement for national number three Tricia Chuah, who was axed after going AWOL last month. The other members of the team are five-time champion and world number one Nicol David, Sharon Wee (No. 21) and Delia Arnold (No. 46). Wee Wern, who joined the team in training on Tuesday under national chief coach Jamie Hickox, said she had completed her O-Levels examination and could now concentrate fully on her squash career. “I turned professional two years ago but could only play in local Wispa circuit tournaments because of my studies. But from now I will be a full-time player and will work on improving my game and also my world rankings,'' said Wee Wern, who is ranked at number 65. She added that she hopes to break into the top 50 bracket by the end of the year.
“With the training under coach Hickox and getting more competitions, I hope to achieve my target.”
Wee Wern created a few upsets to reach the final of the NSC Satellite No. 6 tournament last month. Seeded sixth, she lost to third seed Donna Urquhart of Australia.
In the junior category she won three titles last year – Milo All-Stars, Penang All-Stars and the Dutch Open. She also helped Malaysia finish as the runners-up to Egypt in the team event of the World Juniors in Hong Kong in August.
For her efforts, she was among five players nominated for the Wispa Young Female Player of Year Award.
“I did not win the award but I was happy that I was a nominee,'' said Wee Wern, who finished third in the British Open junior championships early this month.
She added that the Asian Championships would be a learning process for her.
“Although it is my first senior tournament, I will not feel any pressure. I will get to know where I stand against the top Asian players,'' said Wee Wern, who will feature in both the individual and team competitions.
KUALA LUMPUR: Low Wee Wern (pic) will go into full swing in her squash career with the national senior team at the Asian Championships in Kuwait from Feb 13-21. The 18-year-old Penangite comes into the team as a replacement for national number three Tricia Chuah, who was axed after going AWOL last month. The other members of the team are five-time champion and world number one Nicol David, Sharon Wee (No. 21) and Delia Arnold (No. 46). Wee Wern, who joined the team in training on Tuesday under national chief coach Jamie Hickox, said she had completed her O-Levels examination and could now concentrate fully on her squash career. “I turned professional two years ago but could only play in local Wispa circuit tournaments because of my studies. But from now I will be a full-time player and will work on improving my game and also my world rankings,'' said Wee Wern, who is ranked at number 65. She added that she hopes to break into the top 50 bracket by the end of the year.
“With the training under coach Hickox and getting more competitions, I hope to achieve my target.”
Wee Wern created a few upsets to reach the final of the NSC Satellite No. 6 tournament last month. Seeded sixth, she lost to third seed Donna Urquhart of Australia.
In the junior category she won three titles last year – Milo All-Stars, Penang All-Stars and the Dutch Open. She also helped Malaysia finish as the runners-up to Egypt in the team event of the World Juniors in Hong Kong in August.
For her efforts, she was among five players nominated for the Wispa Young Female Player of Year Award.
“I did not win the award but I was happy that I was a nominee,'' said Wee Wern, who finished third in the British Open junior championships early this month.
She added that the Asian Championships would be a learning process for her.
“Although it is my first senior tournament, I will not feel any pressure. I will get to know where I stand against the top Asian players,'' said Wee Wern, who will feature in both the individual and team competitions.