Coaches key to Siti and Lee’s final runs at Borneo Junior Open

Facebook
X
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email
Naveed (left) with Lee (centre) and her mother, Ting Hua Ching.

LET’S READ SUARA SARAWAK/ NEW SARAWAK TRIBUNE E-PAPER FOR FREE AS ​​EARLY AS 2 AM EVERY DAY. CLICK LINK

KUCHING: Behind Siti Syaurah and Lee Xin Yi’s podium finishes were two dedicated coaches who guided them through tough matches, injuries and pressure at the 8th Borneo Junior Open.

Siti and Lee finished as runners-up in their respective divisions.

For Siti, the journey to the final was a testament to perseverance.

She played three back-to-back tournaments in just as many weeks – the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea, the Penang Junior Open, and finally the Borneo Junior Open in Kuching.

“She’s been non-stop for three weeks. At the Asian Juniors, she made it to the semi-finals – her best achievement yet.

“Then she went straight to Penang, picked up an injury, and still came here and pushed through to the final,” said her coach and uncle, Athar Ali.

Despite the physical toll, Siti fought through the final match against Selangor’s Niea Chew.

At one point, she considered retiring due to pain from her injury.

“She wanted to give up in the last game. But I told her, ‘Don’t quit. Just finish your match. Win or lose, you finish the fight’. That’s more important than the medal,” Athar revealed.

Siti, a six-time Girls U-13 champion, is fast becoming one of Sarawak’s top junior players.

Her coach advised rest and focused training as she prepares to move up to the U-17 category.

In the Girls U-17 final, Lee Xin Yi pushed Ooi Wen Min (BJSS/Perlis) to five sets before narrowly losing 2-3 (12-10, 8-11, 11-2, 8-11, 6-2).

Coach Muhammad Naveed expressed pride in Lee’s performance and the progress they have made as a team.

“She’s been waiting a long time for this moment – and so have I. I am grateful to her parents for supporting her training.

“This is an amazing achievement for both of us, and hopefully, there’s more to come,” said Naveed to Sarawak Tribune at the Sarawak Squash Centre in Petra Jaya today.

Borneo Junior Open highlights Sarawak’s rising strength in junior squash.

Related News

Most Viewed Last 2 Days