KUCHING: Sarawak is set to make history this June as the host of two premier tournaments under the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) – the Asian Individual Championships and Asian Doubles Championships.
Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, said the tournaments will bring together elite squash players from across Asia, marking a significant milestone for the state.
A total of 90 players from 18 countries are expected to compete in the individual events, with eight countries confirmed for the doubles category.
“These tournaments will be held at the Sarawak Squash Centre in Petra Jaya,” Rentap said during a press conference at the Grand Margherita Hotel here on Thursday.
The Asian Individual Championships will run from June 17 to 27, followed by the Asian Doubles Championships from June 23 to 26, 2025.
Rentap said the tournaments will feature some of Asia’s top-ranked players.
As of May 2025, Satomi Watanabe of Japan (World No. 9) and Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam (World No. 8) are among the leading women players scheduled to compete.
On the men’s side, Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow (World No. 11) and Qatar’s Abdullah Al-Tamimi (World No. 24) are also expected.
“This is a significant milestone not just for Sarawak squash, but for sports development and tourism in the state.
“Hosting events of this calibre supports our vision of positioning Sarawak as a national sports hub and aligns with the state’s goal of attracting five million visitors,” he said.
The championships are jointly organised by the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) and the Squash Racquets Association of Sarawak (SRAS), and sanctioned by the Asian Squash Federation.
Rentap also highlighted the participation of rising local star from Miri, Harith Daniel, who recently won the Auckland Open and will represent Sarawak at the event.
“Harith is currently based in the UK and has shown strong potential.
“We hope he can follow in the footsteps of Mohamad Azlan Iskandar and represent Malaysia at the 2028 Olympic Games, when squash makes its Olympic debut,” he said.
He added that the tournaments also serve as part of the ranking process for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, while offering valuable experience for local organisers and technical teams.
