Proposal for three more squash events in 2016 Sukma

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Lau (back row, second from left) giving the thumbs-up to the young players taking part in the CMS Sibu-leg.

Lau (back row, second from left) giving the thumbs-up to the young players taking part in the CMS Sibu-leg.

SIBU: The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) is pushing for three more squash events to be included for the 2016 Sukma to be hosted by Sarawak and the 2017 SEA Games to be hosted by Malaysia.

Its deputy president Robert Lau Hui Yew revealed that the three additional events were the Men’s & Women’s Doubles and the Mixed Doubles.

Traditionally, only the Men’s & Women’s Singles and the Men’s and Women’s Team were featured at both Sukma and the SEA Games.

“Here, we are talking about an additional three gold medals at stake and this means a total of seven gold medals will be on offer if our request can get the green light,” he said at the closing of the CMS Sibu leg held here over the last weekend.

Lau, who is also the Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak (SRAS) president, said they had the support and endorsement of the national squash body and the decision now rested with the Sukma organising committee.

Lau was optimistic as about seven to eight affiliates of SRAM have shown their support for the proposal.

If approved, the 2016 Sukma will be historic for squash as it would be the first time seven squash events will be competed.

“And we are confident that we can grab one or two gold from these three new events,” he added.

Lau also disclosed that three of Sarawak’s elite players were currently studying at the Bukit Jalil Sports School and that SRAS would soon be conducting a selection trial for the Sukma players.

Lau, who is also Southeast Asian Squash Federation president, said they were pushing hard for the three doubles to be included in SEA Games.

He also shared his view that squash had a good chance to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“Two weeks ago, the president of the World Squash Federation N. Ramachandran came for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

“During the meeting, there were indications that we could get the Men’s and Women’s Individual events into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” he said.

On the CMS Sibu leg, Lau expressed satisfaction over the participating players coming from the Iban, Bidayuh, Malay and Chinese communities.

“We have over 80 young players taking part in the six categories and at least 20 of them are new faces,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Lau reminded players of the importance of English as a means of communication among them, the coaches and tournament officials.

SRAS had engaged eight Pakistani coaches, he continued, and English was the main medium of communication.

He said this was also in line with what Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had spoken on the importance of using English as an international language for doing business.

“I may add that it’s not only an international language for doing business but also an international language for sports,” he added.