KUALA LUMPUR – The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) is set to meet with the Road to Gold (RTG) committee to push for the inclusion of more of its athletes in the RTG and fast-track programmes, aiming to prepare them for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Currently, there are four athletes in the RTG programme: Aifa Azman, Aira Azman, S. Sivasangari, and Ng Eain Yow, who were previously part of the fast-track programme.
According to SRAM, they are targeting to add another four to five rising athletes, with Ameen Shankar Chandran, Sehveetrraa Kumar, and Thanusaa Uthrian being potential candidates to fill the slots.
SRAM president Gerard Monteiro said the inclusion of these athletes in both programmes would elevate their performance in the coming years to fight for a medal in LA 2028.
“We already have four athletes in RTG, and we have several more with the potential to join the programme. We will work together with the committee in discussions to include them.
“At the same time, the athletes must ensure they maintain their rankings within the top 10 in the world.
“We also have many junior and upcoming talents who deserve a place in the fast-track programme, and we will push for them to be included. Moreover, we will make sure to expand our talent pool for the sport,” said Gerard during a press conference today.
Meanwhile, outgoing SRAM Coaching Director Major S. Maniam said he hopes to see a shift in mentality among coaches and players to take the sport more seriously as it is now in the LA 2028 Olympics.
Before his return to Malaysia in 2016, Maniam spent 14 years in India as a consultant coach for the Squash Rackets Federation of India, making him the longest-serving foreign coach in any sport in the country.
“Until now, we had mainly focused on a few tournaments and events such as the Commonwealth Games. Our ambitions now need to be higher, and we must push ourselves towards the Olympic Games.
“It won’t be easy as we need to compete against the Egyptians, but if the athletes and coaches put in the effort, we can definitely achieve success at LA 2028.
“Head Coach Shahril Shahidan is a very determined person, and he has what it takes to elevate Malaysian squash to the next level,” said Maniam.
70-year-old Maniam, who has been involved in squash coaching for over 40 years, will take on the role as the technical consultant of SRAM from this month onwards. – October 22, 2024