LOCAL players dominated the six-day PBA 18th Penang (Malaysian) Junior Open 2022 Squash Championships which ended at the Nicol David International Squash Centre in Bukit Dumbar today.
Nickhileswar Moganasundharam was the toast of the Penang team when he won the Under-15 boys’ singles title.
His teammate Tho Wei Yan took third placing in the Under-17 boys’ singles, while fellow Penang players Vidhurran Ruthiran, Kayvern Arthur and Wayne Isaac Wilson finished in 3rd, 5th and 7th placings respectively in the Under-11 boys’ singles.
National players from the Squash Racquet Association of Malaysia (SRAM), as expected, dominated the championships by winning six of the 10 titles at stake.
They won the titles through Whitney Isabelle Wilson (Girls’ Under-15), Doyce Lee Ye San (Girls’ Under-17), Sehveetrraa Kumar (Girls’ Under-19), Muhammad Raziq Putra Fakhrur Razi (Boys’ Under-13), Low Wa-Sern (Boys’ Under-17) and Andrik Lim Kai Shan (Boys’ Under-19).
The other three remaining titles went to Muhammad Ifwat Zulkifli of Perlis (Boys’ Under-11), Mahnoor Ali of Pakistan (Girls’ Under-11) and Chloe Lo Pui Yin of Hong Kong (Girls’ Under-13).
A total of 553 players participated in the tournament comprising five age groups for boys and girls.
Squash Racquets Association of Penang (SRAP) vice-president Linda Geh said the local junior players have benefited much from the international exposure.
“We’re happy with the achievements of our Penang boys. However, we’ve to work harder to lift the girls’ standard.
“Overall, this was a great event which resumed after a lapse of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The committee looks forward to organising the event in July next year to attract more participants. We hope with a better timing, we can accommodate more international players,” Geh said.
She also thanked sponsors PBA, Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Penang State Sports Council, Dunlop, SRAM, the organising committee, helpers and the referees for their hard work in making the tournament a success.
RESULTS:
GIRLS:
Under-11: 1. Mahnoor Ali (Pak), 2. Avantikashrii Seenivasagam (Sel), 3. Nurul Nageena Abd Basir (Ked).
Under-13: 1. Chloe Lo Pui Yin (Hkg), 2. Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan (Prk), Naish Singh (Sin).
Under-15: 1. Whitney Isabelle Wilson (SRAM), 2. Ena Kwong (Hkg), 3. Cheung Tsz Ching (Hkg).
Under-17: 1. Doyce Lee Ye San (SRAM), 2. Anrie Goh Chu Yu (SRAM), 3. Gracia Chua (Sin).
Under-19: 1. Sehveetrraa Kumar (SRAM), 2. Wai Sze Wing (Hkg), 3. Akari Midorikawa (Jpn).
BOYS:
Under-11: 1. Muhammad Ifwat Zulkifli (Per), Kaviysh Nathan (Sel), Vidhurran Ruthiran (Pg).
Under-13: 1. Muhammad Raziq Putra Fakhrur Razi (SRAM), 2. Simaver Singh Bamotra (Sel), 3. Toma Ikeda (Jpn).
Under-15: 1. Nickhileswar Moganasundharam (Pg), 2. Aqil Mirza Naim (SRAM), 3. Shu Takahashi (Jpn).
Under-17: 1. Low Wa-Sern (SRAM), 2. Harith Daniel Jefri (SRAM), 3. Tho Wei Yan (Pg).
Under-19: 1. Andrik Lim Kai Shan (SRAM), 2. Shamiel Haeyzad Shahrulhisam (NS) 3. Yujin Ikeda (Jpn).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of SRAP