Monday, March 16, 2015

Syafiq gets a boost ahead of SEA Games selection

PETALING JAYA: Teenage squash player Mohd Syafiq Kamal did his chances of making the SEA Games squad a world of good after producing a matured performance to guide Malaysia to SEA Cup triumph in Singapore.

Despite only sending four players – Syafiq, Mohd Hannan Tarmidi, Zulhijjah Azan and Teh Min Jie – the Malaysian squad lived up to expectations by thrashing Thailand A and Philippines 5-0 in the preliminary stages. They then defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the semi-finals and edged Singapore 3-2 in the final on Saturday.

In the final, the 18-year-old Syafiq delivered the crucial point by beating the experienced Marcus Phua 11-3, 11-6, 11-9.

Singapore had earlier taken the lead when 29-year-old Vivian Rhamanan defeated 20-year-old Hannan 11-4, 11-6, 11-7.

Buoyed by Syafiq’s fine win, Zulhijjah and Min Jie won their matches with relative ease to seal victory for Malaysia, who conceded the last doubles.

The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) have decided to send their second stringers to the SEA Games and Syafiq and Hannan are expected to attend a trial on Thursday to fight for the one spot left in the squad.

The other three members in the four-man team are expected to be Mohd Addeen Idrakie, Sanjay Singh Chal and Valentino Bon Jovi Bong.

There will be no trials for the women’s squad, with Zulhijjah and Min Jie expected to be named with Vanessa Raj and Rachel Arnold.



by Kng Zheng Guan - The Star

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