Young squad have the firepower

NATIONAL coach Peter Genever is confident in the ability of a young squash squad to meet a seven-gold medal target at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.

Women’s singles defending champion Rachel Arnold, ranked 52nd in the world offers the most experience in the 16-player squad in the absence of the country’s top players.

After winning four gold medals in Singapore two years ago, the squash players are expected to bag three doubles titles while defending the men’s and women’s singles and team events.

“I do think it’s achievable,” said Genever of the target after Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin visited the players at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

“I’m quietly confident we can achieve that. It’s important we don’t underestimate anybody, especially in the doubles which can be a funny game and throw up shock results.

“So we have to make sure we are fully focused even from the first round. There won’t be any easy matches.

Malaysian players are seeded first in seven of the nine squash events being held with the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia electing not to contest the jumbo doubles competitions.

Top seed Ng Eain Yow, the 2016 world junior champion, and Syafiq Kamal will carry the country’s challenge in the men’s singles while national junior S. Sivasangari joins Rachel in the women’s singles.

Sanjay Singh Chal, the 2015 men’s singles gold medallist, will play mixed doubles instead with Sivasangari while Syafiq-Eain Yow and Rachel-Aifa Azman will bid to win the men’s and women’s doubles gold medals respectively.

“The level of preparedness is good with different preparation as some were involved at the World Doubles,” said Genever. “I had a briefing with those who were not there about the lessons learnt, so that has been good.

“The four singles players are in good shape with Sangari playing at the World Junior Championships and Rachel at the World Games for match preparation. The two boys haven’t had singles matches for a while but I think they will be fine.

“The team is looking good despite a few minor injuries, a few ankle problems which we will have to monitor as we go.”

For the team events, Malaysia are drawn with Indonesia and Thailand in men’s Group A while the women face Philippines and Thailand in the preliminary round. Devinder Singh