Quest for Bidayuh squash champion
by Philip Wong, firstname.lastname@example.org. Posted on July 2, 2012, Monday
SIBU: President of Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak Robert Lau Hui Yew threw a bold challenge to the Bidayuh community to produce a Pandelela Rinong of squash to take over the mantle from Malaysia squash queen Datuk Nicol David once the latter retires.
He admitted it could be a tall order but with the recent euphoria and keen interest shown in the game by the Bidayuh community, there was every possibility that it could be achieved.
Pandelela, a Bidayuh, is a 19-year-old Sarawak diving sensation who had qualified for the London Olympic women’s 10m platform individual and synchro as well as 3m springboard synchro events.
She would create history for Sarawak and the country should she become the first person to win a medal in the Olympics.
“Perhaps, in 10-years time, we may be able to produce a world squash champion from the Bidayuh community,” Lau told The Borneo Post at the sideline of the Sarawak Circuit first leg held at the Squash Court of SMK Sacred Heart yesterday.
More than 90 players from throughout the state took part in the three-day championship organised as a platform to select outstanding players for next year’s 7th CIMB National Squash Tournament.
Lau was glad to note the increasing number of young players taking up the sport, saying it augurs well for the future development of squash in the country.
He singled out especially the team from Bau which took part in the championship for the first time.
“This is the fruit of our labour in reaching out to other communities to take up squash seriously.”
Bau, led by coach Joe Ting, sent a team of 11 players and two of them successfully secured the second and third placing in the Girl’s U-9 category.
He was grateful to Assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian for taking all the initiatives and being the prime mover to promote squash in Bau and subsequently came up with two squash courts in Singai.
The two squash courts, known as Redeem Ventre, were built at a cost of RM5 million and funded by the Prime Minister’s Department.
It was officially declared open by Sarawak Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Tab Mahmud last March.
Since the setting up of the two squash courts, it had generated wide interests among the young players from Bau, cumulating in the formation of the young team now taking part in the Sarawak Circuit.
“This is a good start and with the Bidayuh community showing keen interest n the sport, it is only a matter of time before their standard will hit an all time high.”
To excel in squash or in any other sports, Lau admitted they had to start from young.
“We really have to build up from the grassroots. It is sort of like a pyramid where the players started from young before they gradually progressed to the top. Nicol is the current squash champion and she is at the top because she gets all the support from the community, the private sectors and the people of Malaysia.”
Lau also encouraged the young players to take up squash which was very suitable for Asian people.
‘Squash depends very much on creativity and subjectivity and it is good for Asian simply because the game do not require a player to be powerfully built, such as tennis. So long as they have the skills, commitment and passion for the sport, who knows, there may come a day when it is their turn to rule the world.”
Ting, when interviewed, expressed the believed his players could make an impact in the next few years. ‘This is the first time that my charges are taking part in the championship. Indeed, all of them are fired up and they are very interested to play.”
Ting described his players as quick learners.
‘Most of them knew nothing about squash when I first roped them in and now, here they are, performing wonders and winning titles.
Once they are into the game, they became more curious, excited and more keen to take part in the competition. I believe they will perform even better during the next two legs.”
The second leg of the Sarawak circuit is slated to be held in Miri from Aug 3-5 and the final leg in Kuching from Sept 14 to 16.