The Sarawak team with Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak vice president Sim Chin Kheng (second right) after the prize presentation.
KUCHING: Sarawak produced another creditable performance at the recent 10th CIMB Foundation National Junior Circuit, 1st leg at the Nicol David National Squash Centre in Penang.
Eugenia Sulan David of Kuching, Iris Chieng Shiao Yu and Claudia Yong Bi Er both from Miri made a clean sweep of the top three spots in the Girls U15 category.
Eugenia, the tournament’s joint 3/4 seed, beat teammate and second seed Iris Chieng 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-7) in the final.
Claudia Yong, who was the top seed, lost to Eugenia in the semi-finals and ended up in third place after she blanked Penang’s Kuviraa Premchand 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-9) in the play-off for third/fourth placings.
Meanwhile, Nathalie Sim was third in the Girls U17 after beating Thanusaa Uthrian 3-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6) in the third/fourth placings play-off.
In the Boys U17, Hi Jia Rong who is studying at BJSS, the joint 3/4 seed, finished fourth after he lost 1-3 (12-10, 7-11, 8-11, 5-11) to his opponent from Penang Nicolas Chee Jenn Hinn.
Worth mentioning is national Boys U13 number one player from Sarawak, Harith Danial Jefri, who impressed although he was fielded in the Boys U17 category by Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia with agreement from his coach Jewan Singh.
The 13-year old student of SMK Columba Miri finished in seventh place after he beat joint 5/8 seed Shamiel Haeyzad Sharulhisan of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-6) in the seventh/eighth placings play-off.
Harith, who received a first round bye, beat Tan Teong Hee of Selangor 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-5) in the second round, 17-year old Sukma player from Perak Neryn Paul Jacob Paul 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-7) in the third round.
However, he lost 0-3 (5-11, 7-11, 6-11) to top seed from Kuala Lumpur Joachim Chua in the quarterfinals.
Chua was the eventual champion in this category after defeating joint 3/4 seed Sacchin Kumar Sivanesan 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-7) in the final.
Another Sarawakian Caleb Lau Hui Xuan, the joint 9/16 seed, finished in ninth spot.
Other Sarawakians who also competed in this tournament were Joseph Tang, Jack Foo, Prasad Ruhen, Jeremy Dawat Pengiran and Cyrus Tay.
The state team was managed by Irene Goh and coached by Jess Tay, Sanjay and Muhd Mukzaini.