After eight months, new pro Aifa still waiting to make her debut

PETALING JAYA: Aifa Azman decided to turn pro in January this year. But she has yet to play in a single Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament. And the drought could continue right up to next year, no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Malaysia had been supposed to host the Women’s World Team Squash Championship in Kuala Lumpur from Dec 15-20 but that is not likely to take place as the government may not open the borders until the end of the year.

The world junior meet, too, was scheduled to take place in Perth last month but was cancelled. Malaysia had hoped to step in and take over but that plan also came unstuck.

Teams like India, Australia, Hong Kong, Egypt and England had been expected to take part but the recent rise in Covid-19 cases could spell disaster.

Aifa would have been a member of the final team as she was ranked fourth in the country and 59th in the world before the Covid-19 suspension.

Low Wee Wern is the No. 1 ranked Malaysian at 29th in the world ahead of S. Sivasangari (43rd) and Rachel Arnold (50th).

“December had been touted as time when things would improve but I’m not sure now. Even the PSA squash season is not likely to resume soon,” said Aifa, who reached the semi-finals in the world junior meet in Malaysia last year.

“I was also hoping for Malaysia to host the world junior championships rather than having the tournament called off.

“At least, it would have been great to play in the world juniors in December as I will not be eligible after that but now I don’t think it’s going to happen.

“I am taking everything positively (without any competition to look forward to). It actually trains me to be tougher mentally.

“Having no competition also means I have time for my injury to heal fully. I injured my knee at the start of the year but I am well now.

“The situation around the world is not getting any better. Even in Malaysia, cases are on the rise again,” added the 18-year-old from Kedah.

Meanwhile, SRAM have registered the National Championships on Oct 6-10 as a satellite event. And that, although not a PSA meet, could be Aifa’s only competition this year.