HANGZHOU — The Malaysian squash players, who will begin their quest for the Asian Games medals in the men’s and women’s team events tomorrow are still trying to adjust themselves to the condition of the glass courts at the Hangzhou International Expo Centre, here.
The players met during the official training session here, said the courts, temporarily built for the Asian Games, are slightly different from other venues and the ball bouncing is slightly different.
Half of the Malaysian players had experience playing in the venue during the Asian Squash Mixed Doubles Squash Tournament in June, but the rest are playing for the first time.
Despite the court variations, the country’s flag bearer S. Sivasangari is excited for her second Asiad outing after winning women’s singles silver behind Datuk Nicol David and bronze in the team event last edition.
“We have been training here for the past three days and trying to adapt to the courts. I am very new to this court.
“We have been preparing for the Asian Games past couple of months.
“I don’t want to put pressure on myself, and I think the same goes for other players in the team as well,” she said.
Sivasangari, together with sisters Aira and Aifa Azman and Rachel Arnold are set to start their Group B campaign against Nepal tomorrow morning, before facing Pakistan in the evening.
They will then play against Macau on Wednesday and India on Thursday, with only the top two teams advancing into the semi-finals scheduled for Friday.
Meanwhile, Ivan Yuen, who was part of the gold medal-winning squad in Jakarta, wants to get a strong start in the men’s team event Group B fixture as the team prepares for their title defence.
“Yes the court is different, but it’s the same for everybody.
“We just got to adapt to it as quickly as possible. In certain situations we still need to be very alert because, in a glass court, the bounces are different compared to walls, so have to be prepared,” he said.
The men’s team which also comprise Muhammad Addeen Idrakie Bahtiar, Ng Eain Yow, and Mohammad Syafiq Mohd Kamal play the Philippines and South Korea tomorrow, Japan and Thailand on Wednesday, and Hong Kong the following day. — September 25, 2023