Darren hoping to make a return to national squad

Squash player Darren Chan is trying his luck to get back into the national team after returning home from Australia.

The national junior player left to Down Under five years ago for studies but did not give up on his squash career. In fact, he turned professional in 2018 while pursuing a degree in actuarial science at Monash University in Melbourne.

Darren said he hoped to play again in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournaments.

“I have proven myself since turning pro in 2018. Despite being busy with my studies, I still featured in the PSA tournaments in the last two years and won two titles,” said the 23-year-old Darren.

He won the first PSA title by winning Cairns International Open in Cairns just eight months after arriving in Melbourne and won his second at the Bendigo International in Victoria last August.

In just two years, he moved from the 501st position in the world ranking to184.

He said he would be calling the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) director Major (retired) S. Maniam in the next few days to discuss on the possibility of him training with the national team.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed to get a favourable answer from SRAM,” said Darren.

Asked what he would do if the national body turn down his request, Darren said: “I love to play squash. I’m still young and I will continue to compete.”

Darren had worked at Carnbrea, a boutique wealth and investment advisory group in Melbourne before arriving in Malaysia. He has now set up his own company together with his close friend in Kuantan.

“We have started our company Digital Growth Agency as we want to help SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Malaysia to expand their business online,” he said.