KUCHING: Sarawak squash is building its next generation of players as 67 children joined the Talent Identification Search 2025, with state coach, Fabian Reynaldo Faurillo, stressing the need to prepare a new batch to succeed the current Malaysia Games (SUKMA) squad.
The one-day programme, held at the Sarawak Squash Centre today, drew participants aged between five and 14, mostly from primary schools across Samarahan and Kuching, with a few from secondary schools and even kindergarten.
Fabian said the session focused on ball-handling, footwork, agility, awareness and discipline; all delivered in a fun and basic format to introduce newcomers to the sport.
“Today was about the fundamentals: how they handle the ball, their movement, their awareness, and most importantly, how they listen and adapt to instructions.
“For many, this is their first time holding a racquet; so, it’s about fun and the basics,” he explained.
He revealed that about half of the participants showed strong potential to progress further.
“Out of the 67, I was surprised that nearly 50 per cent stood out. I identified around 10, and my two assistant coaches also picked about 10 each, so in total around 30 players showed promise,” Fabian told Sarawak Tribune at the Sarawak Squash Centre today.
He said some of the children already had a sporting background in badminton, pickleball, or tennis, which made their transition into squash smoother.
Moving forward, Fabian said a structured pathway is in place, starting with beginner-level training before moving to intermediate, advanced, and ultimately elite levels.
“After today, we will pass the list of potential players to their teachers, who will then help them register for the training programme tailored to their standard,” he added.
However, he stressed the importance of sustaining such programmes to ensure Sarawak’s squash scene continues to thrive.
“We are concerned that once this current SUKMA squad moves on, there will be no one to take over. That’s why we want to start early, so every two years we can produce a new batch of players,” he said.
Fabian acknowledged that while talent is present, commitment remains a major challenge.
“We have the players, but what we lack at times is their commitment. That is something we need to work on if we want to push them to the top,” he said.
