MIRI: Sarawak squash player Harith Danial Jefri emerged as one of Malaysia’s standout athletes at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games after clinching two gold medals in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles events.
The achievement marked a memorable debut for Harith at the SEA Games and underlined the growing presence of young Sarawakian athletes on the international stage.
Harith admitted the journey to success was far from smooth, having endured a challenging period after completing his SPM last year that disrupted his training routine.
“Last year was tough because I stopped training for two to three months after SPM. Getting back into competition was really difficult.
“There were moments when I broke down and spoke to my coach about what I was going through.
“The support from my coaches and teammates made a big difference, especially during training,” he told TVS when met at SK Jalan Bintang here recently.
He said one of the biggest tests during the Games was coping with a packed schedule, including having to contest two finals on the same day with limited recovery time.
After winning gold in the mixed doubles final, Harith had just 45 minutes to recover before returning to court for the men’s doubles decider.
“I was still absorbing the first win when I had to prepare for the next match.
“Physically and mentally it was exhausting, but I stayed focused on the goal — to win and make Malaysia and my family proud,” he said.
Harith then shared the success was not only a personal milestone but also hoped it would help elevate the profile of squash in Sarawak and Malaysia.
He also revealed his long-term ambition of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, describing it as the ultimate dream for any athlete.
Harith described having a squash court named after him at SK Jalan Bintang as a huge honour and a moment that he will always cherish.
Looking ahead, he hopes to continue donning national colours at major events such as the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the 2027 SEA Games in Sarawak, while maintaining consistency on court. – TVS
