Squash players must think global

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MIRI: Local squash players should not confine themselves to national events but must be daring enough to venture further afield by taking on international opponents.

TALENTED: Bong (second right) with his players (from left) Amanda Jong, Ahmad Haidi and Daniell.

TALENTED: Bong (second right) with his players (from left) Amanda Jong, Ahmad Haidi and Daniell.

Miri Squash Association coach Valentino Bong pointed out that competing in international events would give the players more exposure as they would be facing different opponents instead of only Malaysians.

“I believe they are already quite familiar with the national players in the Peninsula because they participate in national games every month, meaning they also meet up with one another very often.

“However, they do not get the opportunity to be involved internationally in the games, hence they lack the necessary exposure to the international squash players,” he said in an interview with The Borneo Post recently.

In this respect, Bong encouraged the players, in particular the local ones, to play more international games to get more exposure and better understanding of squash.

He hoped their parents could render their support and cooperation to allow their children to venture further into the field of squash so they could get to know more of the international players.

Bong, nevertheless, was thankful to the parents for their support all this while which had contributed much to the success of the players in general and the association in particular.

Asked on the squash game, the coach, a former world-ranked player from Kuching, asserted that this game was catching up among the locals here.

“To what I observe, squash is getting popular nowadays and many people take up this sport; some take it not only to compete, but as a past-time and for the purpose of getting some exercise,” he said.

Meanwhile, Miri Squash Association was formed in 2004 and currently only Bong is taking the role to train the players.

According to Bong, actually the Chinese outnumbered other races in the game, here.

“This in fact is not an association for the Chinese only, but is open to all whoever is interested to join,” he assured.  The association is proud that it has produced two players so far who have qualified for the world championship in 2015.

Daniell Wee and Sanjay Singh are among the five squash players in Sarawak and the only two from Miri chosen for the said championship.