Near-clean sweep by Miri as state powerhouse in squash
SIBU: Miri players staged an almost clean sweep in the Inter Division Schools Squash Championships which ended at SMK Sacred Heart here yesterday afternoon.
With the exception of the Girls’ Under-18 category, Miri took all the remaining titles in the Boys’ U-18, Boys’ and Girls’ Under-15 and U-12.
In the Girls’ U-18 category, Sibu Carina Loi Jing swept aside a teammate 3- 0 (11- 5, 11- 4, 11- 9) to lift the title and spoilt Miri’s hope of bringing home a clean sweep. Third placing went to Kuching Sabrina Tan Zing Tong.
In the Boys’ U-18 category, it was an all-Miri affair with Timothy Ling edging Martin Kueh 3-1 ( 911, 11- 89, 16-14, 11- 3) to win the title. Third placing went to Alden Yeo.
Chloe Chieng from Miri took the Girls’ U-15 title when she beat teammate Wong Su Fei 3- 0 (11-7, 11-10, 11- 4) to bag the title. Third placing went to Claudia Yong.
The Boys’ U- 15 title went to Nathan Kueh from Miri, followed by Clifford Tay ( Kuching) and Caleb Lau (Sibu).
The Girls’U-12 title went to Iris Cheng ( Miri), followed by Jovyn Lau ( Miri) and Agatha Cheng ( Sibu) while Harith Daniel Jefri ( Miri) took the Boys’ U-12 title, followed by Conor Loi (Sibu) and Joseph Tang ( Miri).
Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak (SRAS) president Robert Lau Hui Yew said the results cemented Miri’s reputation as the
All along, Miri has been able to produce good results in the divisional squash championship and this year is no exception.
squash powerhouse in the state.
“All along, Miri has been able to produce good results in the divisional squash championship and this year is no exception,” he said.
Lau narrowed down Miri’s victory to its systematic training programme in churning out new players.
“Parents and coaches in Miri are very committed and very much involved. They are also very willing to sacrifice their time and energy to guide their children and players. That is the very reason why Miri has been able to rule in squash over these few years,” he added.
Lau said Miri also has a huge grassroots base to pick from the many schools which are willing to send students to take part in the sport. In Sibu, he said there had been a drop in the standard in the recent years while in Kuching, the players are more inclined to clubs rather than as a public sport.
Nevertheless, Lau said a new team of players had emerged in Kuching with the available of squash facilities at the Sukma courts in Petra Jaya.
“We a re pushing for the popularity of the sport and with all the good facilities available, there is no doubt that we will be able to unearth more talented players soon.”
Patron of Sibu Squash Association Lau Swee Nguong gave away the prizes.
Robert Lau Hui Yew, Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak president