KUALA LUMPUR – Former international squash ace Ong Beng Hee is poised to make a significant impact in the world of squash once again, announcing his departure from the US after serving as the national head coach for three years.
Beng Hee’s next move is to establish his first academy in Beijing, China, called Dream Squash, with long-term plans to expand to other regions in the country.
He said the timing could not have been better as squash was recently announced as an official sport for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Since squash became an Olympic sport in 2023, it has gained increasing recognition in China, with a growing demand and rapid rise in young players,” Beng Hee said in a statement today.
“The resources and potential here are enormous, and Dream Squash is confident in its ability to impact its development in China, ultimately benefiting the sport internationally.
“With my experience as a former player and coach in Malaysia, Qatar and the USA, I am confident we can offer the squash community exciting opportunities to improve their game and achieve their goals.
“I am excited to announce the launch of my own academy.
“The opportunity arose after meeting several enthusiastic parents seeking a better, more systematic training structure for their children.
“The focus is to provide young players with a structured training programme, supporting the game from grassroots to elite levels, with each player’s goals in mind.
“Our academy is open to players from all countries, we are passionate about creating a hub for the Asian Squash Community.”
Beng Hee, who retired in 2015, was a two-time Asian Games gold medalist in the singles event, representing Malaysia in Busan 2002 and Doha 2006.
He achieved a career-high ranking of world number seven and was Malaysia’s top-ranked player.
The 44-year-old Penang-born has served as the US head coach since 2021.
“It has been an honour to serve as the US national head coach. I have truly enjoyed working with US Squash and gained much valuable experience over the past three years.
“My sincere gratitude goes out to the players, management team, colleagues, sponsors, and parents for their unwavering support.
“During the past three years, both the women’s and men’s teams have achieved their highest positions ever – and I am proud to have contributed to their progress.
“A notable highlight was Timmy Brownell reaching the quarter-finals of the recent British Open as the only American, climbing from a ranking of 120 to the top 30.
“This achievement is a testament to the significant progress Team USA has made since 2021,” he added. – June 11, 2024