Ipoh-born squash prodigy Jinoreeka Ning bags third Hong Kong Junior Open title, eyes British Junior Open next
This time, she wrested the girls' Under-17 title from Hong Kong's top seed Elaine Chung Yee Ling after a tightly-fought match 11-8, 6-11, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10.
The Form Three student at Ipoh's Methodist Girls' School won the title for the first time in 2022 (Under-13) and again last year (Under-15).
Jinoreeka managed to pull the feat for the third time on Sunday despite having a high fever for the last three days, her father Manivannan Ramasamy said.
As she has no formal coach in Malaysia, Jinoreeka sticks to a training programme designed by Egypt's squash legend Omar Abdel Aziz, following in the footsteps of her squash idol — World No. 3 Hania El Hammamy.
Since 2023, Jinoreeka has trained in person with Omar in Cairo only eight times, with each trip costing around RM30,000.
She also follows Omar's fitness training sessions, held online four times a week. On weekends, her parents drive down to The Lakeview Club in Subang Jaya for her sparring sessions with other local squash talents.
Jinoreeka has been on a winning streak this year, after clinching the Under-15 title at the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea and the Under-17 title at the Penang Junior Open last month.
She has set her sights on the 2026 British Junior Open title next and hopes to make her dream debut of representing Malaysia in the 2027 World Junior Squash Championships.
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Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Ipoh-born squash prodigy Jinoreeka Ning bags third Hong Kong Junior Open title, eyes British Junior Open next
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Ipoh-born junior squash star Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan won her third Hong Kong Junior Open title yesterday, earning herself a sweet birthday gift as she turns 15 on August 21. This time, she wrested the girls' Under-17 title from Hong Kong's top seed Elaine Chung Yee Ling after a tightly-fought match 11-8, 6-11, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10. The Form Three student at Ipoh's Methodist Girls' School won the title for the first time in 2022 (Under-13) and again last year (Under-15). Jinoreeka managed to pull the feat for the third time on Sunday despite having a high fever for the last three days, her father Manivannan Ramasamy said. As she has no formal coach in Malaysia, Jinoreeka sticks to a training programme designed by Egypt's squash legend Omar Abdel Aziz, following in the footsteps of her squash idol — World No. 3 Hania El Hammamy. Since 2023, Jinoreeka has trained in person with Omar in Cairo only eight times, with each trip costing around RM30,000. She also follows Omar's fitness training sessions, held online four times a week. On weekends, her parents drive down to The Lakeview Club in Subang Jaya for her sparring sessions with other local squash talents. Jinoreeka has been on a winning streak this year, after clinching the Under-15 title at the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea and the Under-17 title at the Penang Junior Open last month. She has set her sights on the 2026 British Junior Open title next and hopes to make her dream debut of representing Malaysia in the 2027 World Junior Squash Championships.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Not every athlete makes it and that's okay because it's part of the story too
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — In a small corner of the Youth and Sports Ministry, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from the Bike And Bean café greets visitors, yet behind the pleasant scent lies the story of former cycling hero Mohamad Firdaus Mohd Zonis, once hailed as a great hope in Malaysia's track cycling arena. His name began to make waves among local sports fans in 2014 when he delivered a bronze medal at the World Junior Track Cycling Championships, an achievement that established him as one of the nation's most promising prospects. That triumph at a young age made him the first Malaysian since Adiq Husainie (2008) to step onto the podium in the men's 1-kilometre time trial, earning him a place among the successors to national cycling legend Datuk Azizulhasni Awang. The achievement was further cemented by the national junior record in the 200-metre sprint, which still stands to this day, a silent testament to his prowess on the track. However, behind the cheers and podium finishes lay a story seldom told — the physical exhaustion, mental pressure, and injuries that gradually eroded his fighting spirit. 'Moving up to the senior level, the training got heavier. I felt I wasn't good enough even though I gave my best. Small recurring injuries eventually became a big burden,' said Firdaus, recalling the period when his passion began to fade. Everything came to a head when he was diagnosed with L4 and L5 slip disc injuries, forcing him to make the painful decision to end a career he had dreamed of since childhood far earlier than expected. Although he once sank into disappointment, Firdaus found his own way to rise again after hanging up his bike — by shifting his path to bicycle repairs. For Firdaus, success does not necessarily come in the form of medals hanging around the neck, but in the ability to get back up, find life's meaning after sport, and most importantly, heal oneself. 'I hope there will be more awareness about burnout among young athletes, so they know they are not alone and that there is support if they need it,' he said. Firdaus' experience is not an isolated case, as former national junior tennis player Wan Abdul Muiz Wan Aziz went through a similar phase. Once ranked sixth in Malaysia at the age of 16, Wan Abdul Muiz admitted that early success came with extraordinary pressure. The Kelantan-born athlete, who started playing tennis at the age of 10, was once considered one of the country's brightest talents, but the glitter came at a heavy price. 'People think kids just enjoy playing. But the pressure from coaches, parents, or even oneself is very heavy. 'At one point I felt lazy to train and started to question what all this meant,' he said. Training for eight to 10 hours a day while juggling academic responsibilities and high expectations caused Muiz to lose interest in the sport he once loved. What made it worse was that requests for help were often met with stigma. 'Our culture sometimes assumes that if you can't take it, you're weak. Mental health support for young athletes is very limited. Many don't understand the emotional burden we carry,' he said. The stories of Firdaus and Muiz are a reminder that behind the roaring cheers lies the silent side of sports — a challenge that demands more than just physical strength, but also resilience of the heart and mental well-being. — Bernama
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Fever-stricken Jinoreeka Ning wins U-17 title in Hong Kong
KUALA LUMPUR: Fever-stricken and without a coach, battle-hardened Jinoreeka Ning still fought her way to the girls' Under-17 title at the Hong Kong Junior Open on Sunday. The 15-year-old from Perak, who had been on medication for three consecutive days, summoned enough grit to topple Hong Kong's top seed Elaine Chung 11-8, 6-11, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10 in a tough 45-minute final. It was third seed Jinoreeka's third title in just two months. Last month, she captured the Under-15 crown at the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea before winning the Under-17 title at the Penang Junior Open. Sunday's triumph was also her third Hong Kong Junior Open title — having won the Under-13 in 2022 and the Under-15 last year. A Form Three student at Methodist Girls' School, Jinoreeka does not train under a full-time coach in Perak but follows a programme set by Egyptian coach Omar Aziz. Her parents, R. Manivannan and Toh Chee Kuan, have spent over RM250,000 to support the squash career of their only child. Remarkably, Jinoreeka — who took up squash at the age of eight — has now won 22 junior titles without a full-time coach. "I've had a fever since Friday and have been taking medication for the past three days," said Jinoreeka. "It was really tough to play in the final as I was ill, but I never gave up and kept fighting for every ball. "Elaine is more experienced than me, having played in the World Junior Open in Cairo last month. The deciding fifth game was very closely fought, but I managed to win the crucial points to claim my third title of the year. "I don't have a coach here, so I follow the programme given by coach Omar. All my hard work, with the help of my dad, has paid off handsomely. It feels great to win the Under-17 title even though I'm only 15." Five Malaysians reached their respective finals in Hong Kong, but Jinoreeka was the only one to return home with a title. In the boys' Under-11 final, Rizq Amzar Shahril lost 11-2, 6-11, 11-4, 11-1 to Hong Kong's Simon Mei. Kayvern Arthur was beaten 11-1, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11 by Liu Yuan Xi of China in the boys' Under-13 division, while Maisarah Khairul Nizam went down 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 to Hong Kong's Yang Sihan in the girls' Under-13 final. In the boys' Under-15 decider, Armann Merzha Ashraff fell 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 to Hong Kong's Yuen Tsz Long.
