Malaysia cannot expect medal winners in the women’s competition of the world junior squash championships, which begin on Wednesday in Chennai.
National elite coach Ajaz Azmat has conceded that none of the seven players in the team — Low Wee Nee, Tan Yan Xin, Nessrine Ariffin, Rachael Goh, Vanessa Raj, Yong Sue Ann and Celine Yeap — will make it to the semi-finals.
"The juniors of the other countries are strong and the best we can hope for is seeing Wee Nee (sixth seed) and Nessrine (ninth-16th) in the quarter-finals," said the Pakistani coach.The top two seeds are India’s Dipika Pallikal and Egypt’s Heba El Torky.
Ajaz added that the four players who would carry Malaysia’s challenge in the team competition, involving 16 countries, were Wee Nee, Nessrine, Yan Xin and Rachel.
"The seedings for the team event will be based on the players’ performance in the individual competition. I hope the players will give their best in the individual event to earn a good seeding," said Ajaz.
For the first time in the World Juniors, the boys’ and girls’ individual events will be held simultaneously. But there will be no boys’ team competition.
Ajaz said that Asian junior champion Ivan Yuen is Malaysia’s best bet for a medal.
Ivan is the second seed behind defending champion Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt and in his half of the draw is another Egyptian, third seed Karim Abdel Gawad. The other Malaysian in the boys’ competition is Mohd Zul Azri.
The last Malaysian to win the world junior boys’ title was Ong Beng Hee in 1999.
Not fair to rubbish the Malaysian Girls even before they start. Aftar should check his facts before writing. I just hope the girls will make him eat his words. Malaysia Boleh - yes or no!
ReplyDeleteLow Wee Wern is the best bet to win the World Junior title but no effort was done to host this memorial event in Malaysia or to hold it a few days earlier before her 19th Birthday.Guess its not important for the title anyway.
ReplyDeletePity those girls! How could he say such things. He's a total disgrace to the squash fraternity in Malaysia. Basically, Ajaz Azmat is being a pessimist. This just goes to prove that he didn't have any faith at all in the Malaysian girls. The very girls that he trained!Personally, he should have given encouragement to them...not bringing their hopes down. He should know that the door is everytime open for him, with a red carpet rolled out, to just quit being the coach to the girls.
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