SRAM open to players wanting to study abroad

PETALING JAYA: The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) are open to the idea of their players wanting to study overseas.

But they have one small request: share their plans with SRAM as early as possible.

SRAM were badly hit when three players – Marcus Sim (pic), Teh Min Jie and Zoe Foo – left for the United States last month.

Zoe, in particular, only notified SRAM on Aug 3 – just two weeks before the start of the KL SEA Games.

Several other players, including SEA Games double gold medallist S. Sivasangari, have also been attracting interests from US colleges.

“Every player will want to continue their studies,” said SRAM director Mejar (Rtd) S. Maniam.

“The US scholarships are worth hundreds of thousands in ringgit. These offers are hard to refuse and I will never stop anyone from going abroad to study.

“But what I want is for those planning to go abroad, to come and talk to me and let me know their plans early.

“The players my feel apprehensive about talking to us because they are afraid that they may be breaking the full-time contract they signed with the National Sports Council (NSC).

“The contract is something that we have to review. We also need to change this misconception of us not letting youngsters further their studies.

“I will also try to negotiate with the universities to allow the players to represent Malaysia in major events, like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, if they don’t clash with their exams.

“SRAM will bear the costs of bringing the players back to attend selection trials if needed.”

SRAM are open to the players studying in the US because “there are many top professionals based in the US”.

“Our players will have the opportunity to train with the best and stay at a competitive level,” said Maniam.

Among the top pros who had studied in the US included men’s world No. 5 Ali Farag of Egypt and women’s world No. 9 Amanda Sobhy of the US. Both were Harvard graduates.