Emmanuel (second right), Ting (third right) with (from left) Talis, Margaret and Luqman at the press conference.
KUCHING: 2017 SEA Games men’s singles gold medalist Sanjay Singh Chal will be among the participants at the CMS Squash Circuit Samarahan Leg to be held at the Sarawak Squash Centre in Petra Jaya from March 23 to 25.
Organising chairman Emmanuel David, who confirmed this in a press conference at a local hotel yesterday, said Sanjay who is also the silver medalist at last year’s World University Squash Championship and national No. 5, will compete with 12 others in the Men’s Premier category.
“It would be a great chance for local players to observe how Sanjay plays and maybe pick up a few things from the former national player.
“Our 2019 British Open Boys U13 first runner-up Harith Danial Jefri from Miri and his elder brother Harith Irfan Jefri are also competing in the same category.
“A total of 140 players from Kuching, Samarahan, Sibu, Miri, Sabah and Bahrain will be competing in this tournament and officials from their own divisions, state and country will be accompanying them,” he said.
The categories to be contested include Grassroot, Boys and Girls U9, 11, 13, 15, 17, Men’s Open, Men’s Premier and Men’s Doubles.
Emmanuel added that Squash Association of Samarahan (SAS) are honoured to be given the
trust by Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak (SRAS) to organise one of the legs of the CMS Squash Circuit.
The other leg will be held in Miri in August.
“This tournament is aimed at promoting squash and awareness of the sport among the public that we do have the facilities in Kuching and Sarawak.
“It would be a good platform to expose our young players as well as those preparing for Sukma 2020 in Johor,” he added.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has been invited to officiate the closing ceremony on March 25.
Also present at the press conference were SAS president Joseph Ting, SRAS secretary Margaret Kechendai and organising committee members Talis Dudom and Luqman Abdullah.