SUKMA 2016: A rough ride expected for state squash team

Marcus Sim

KUCHING: Sarawak are not setting any target for squash this Sukma XVIII even though their players are entered in all seven events.

They have a relatively young team with many of the players studying in form two and four as they do not have a Sanjay Singh Chal who won the only gold in the last Sukma in Perlis two years ago.

According to an official, it will be a rough ride this time as all the national players will be playing for the other state teams.

The young players in the Sarawak team have still a long way to reach national standards while the more experienced are Marcus Sim, Jess Tay, Ma Si Yi and Jean Wong Zhi Xuan, all retained from the last Sukma outing.

Other states have national and professional players in their teams who have won Asian, British and many international tournaments, including doubles, so the gap is very far.

They also have the advantage of training on doubles courts in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. Perlis is the only other state with doubles courts.

Doubles events are being competed in Sukma 2016 for the very first time. All Sarawakians except for Marcus Sim have never played doubles in any competition.

Ma Si Yi and Jean Wong will feature in
the women’s singles and doubles.

Jess Tay postponed his university studies to return to Kuching in May as he is pairing up with Marcus for the men’s doubles.

So a gold may be a medal too far this Sukma but the only plus point is that the players are playing in their own courts for the first time and on homeground.

Squash will start on July 18 before the official date of Sukma competitions on July 22.

The Sarawak squash team are all geared up for the challenge ahead.