a day ago
Middle East crisis wrecks Malaysia's squash dream
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have withdrawn from the World Junior Squash Championships in Cairo, Egypt from July 21-Aug 1 due to the Middle East crisis (conflict between Israel and Iran).
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia president Gerard Monteiro said the authorities have advised them not to go to the tournament.
"We have informed the World Squash Federation of our withdrawal from the championships yesterday due to uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East," said Gerard today.
Six Malaysian boys and six girls were supposed to take part in the Under-19 championships in Cairo.
Low Wa Sern, who won the boys' Under-19 title in the Asian Junior Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea recently, was seeded joint fifth for the world meet. The Perakian was to play his fourth and last World Junior Championships.
"Unfortunately, it's not going to happen. I am disappointed," said Wa Sern who finished fifth in the World Junior Championships in Houston, the United States last year.
Another national junior player, M. Nickhileswar, was also disappointed at not being able to participate in Cairo.
"The players were informed by SRAM on Saturday (July 12) that they would not be going to Cairo because of the crisis in the Middle East.
"It is disappointing because all my hard work in training has gone to waste. However, I can still compete in the next two World Junior Championships as I am 16."
