KUCHING: The Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak (SRAS) wants all their young players with potential to get as much exposure as possible.
An effective way, according to Emmanuel David who is SRAS committee member in charge of selection and competition, is to sent them for tournaments.
“In sports, exposure is equally important as training. We really need to see our youngsters who have the potential to go far in squash to test their mantle against the very good players out there,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He revealed that a few youngsters as young as six years-old, whom SRAS have identified, have participated in a few national tournaments just this year alone.
The stumbling block working against the plan to groom more quality squash players is funding.
Most of the young players have to depend on self-funding by their parents just to be active in the sport. Then there is the travelling cost from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia, where most of the national tournaments are held.
“We are in the process of looking for more sponsors to fund our activities. I hope many out there will acknowledge that we do this just to help the youngsters here in the state and the development of squash in the state itself,” Emmanuel appealed.
Sarawak have always been one of the states in Malaysia which produced national players such as Azlan Iskandar, June Tiong, Jo-Ann Jee and Rachael Goh.
Sarawak’s most recent squash sensation is Sanjay Singh Chal who won the gold medal in the men’s singles at last month’s Sukma in Perlis.
Emmanuel is also hoping that a squash academy can be established in the near future to continue the state’s proud tradition in the sports of squash.