SQUASH PLANET!

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Monday April 6, 2009
Club players scoring good results in tournaments
By Y.P. SIVAM

HOLIDAY Villa Sports Club has every reason to be proud as several players from the Squash Youth Programme have made an impact in local age group competitions.

The programme’s chief coach Leong Eng Kiat said the programme was to encourage youngsters to take up squash as a healthy activity.


Getting it right: Leroy Leong (left) giving some tips to the trainees.

When the programme was first launched last year, there were only 10 students. Now the number of trainees has increased to 25. Most of them are from schools in Subang Jaya and are aged from seven to 18.

Several players from the programme made their presence felt in this year’s Selangor Schools Sports Council (MSSS) squash championships.

Elroy Leong won the gold medal in the boys Under-18 age group. He and another trainee Tony Moey were members of the Petaling district bronze medal winning team. The quartet of Loong Foong Shiang, A. Anusha, Olivia Mok and Raja Balqis from SMK Subang Jaya won the silver medal in the team event.

Elroy won two gold medals in the Milo-Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) squash championships in Kuala Terengganu.

His first gold medal came in the boys Under-18 individual event when he put up a gallant display and downed teammate Marcus Yuen 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 in the final. Elroy also helped Selangor win the team gold when they edged Penang 2-1 in the final.

Leong said Elroy has been identified to represent Malaysia in international age group competitions.

“We are looking forward to seeing him make an impact in international competitions as well,’’ added Leong.

Besides Leong, the Holiday Villa Sports Club has two other coaches - Leroy Leong and Micky Wee - involved in the programme. Training sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8pm- 10pm.

Both Leroy and Wee are qualified coaches and have played a big role in grooming the players in the Under-13 age group.

Leong said the players had shown their potential and he hoped to see them excel within the next two years.

“We also make it a point to expose them in competitions organised by the Squash Racquets Association of Selangor (SRAS). We will be entering them for the Milo-All Star Junior squash championships, the Selangor Inter-team junior championships as well as other age group competitions,’’ said Leong.

Club manager Abdul Hadi said they would like to see more youngsters taking up squash.

“Squash is an all-weather sport and enjoyable. We encourage parents to sign up their children for our programme which is challenging yet fun,’’ said Abdul Hadi.

For more information, contact 03-5022 7750.
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