The Sarawak squash team with assistant chef-de-mission (squash) Connie Yeo (left) and team manager Lucy Read (second left).
KUCHING: Sarawak will be focusing on winning the men’s doubles and women’s doubles in the Sukma squash competition at the Sarawak Squash centre from July 23-28.
With the introduction of the doubles events for the first time in Sukma, seven gold medals will be up for grabs in the sport.
Sarawak’s challenge will be shouldered by six male and six female players, four of whom are retained from the 2014 Perlis Sukma squad.
According to Sarawak Racquets Association president Robert Lau, only three states have courts for doubles play and Sarawak will be have that edge besides home ground advantage over other teams.
“The Sarawak Squash Centre had only been completed recently and our players have only three weeks or so to get adapted to the playing conditions,” he said.
Team manager Lucy Read also noted that although many states have yet to have the doubles courts, they have players studying at Bukit Jalil Sports School and are used to playing in the doubles.
“Our biggest opponents are Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Penang because all these states have players in the national team,” she said. The state squash players won one gold and one bronze at the last Sukma.