PETALING JAYA: Talented squash junior Ng Eain Yow has proved that it is possible to balance both studies and sports.
The 15-year-old from Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) scored seven straight As in his Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR).
Now Eain Yow, who played an integral part in helping Malaysia clinch the team gold in the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China, in August, is aiming to equal national No.1 Ong Beng Hee’s record of three titles when he competes in next year’s British Junior Open in Sheffield from Jan 2-6. Beng Hee won three titles from 1994-1998,
Eain Yow started the ball rolling by bagging the Under-13 title in 2011. In January this year, he bagged his second title by winning the Under-15 category.
This time, Eain Yow is competing in the Under-17 category. He is seeded second.
“I’m definitely going for Beng Hee’s record. The British Juniors is one of my favourite tournaments. I believe there is a 50-50 chance for me to win,” said Eain Yow.
“There is also another record that I’m interested in. I want to overtake (world No. 4) Egyptian’s Mohamed El Shorbagy’s three titles in the Under-19 category. This is just the first step for me.
“Before I came to Sheffield, I had a bout of food poisoning. But I’m feeling great now and I’ve been practising well. I have to be at my best because it will be a tough competition.
“There are two Egyptians in the Under-17 category. Youssef Soliman is the top seed and he is quite good. Karim Ibrahim is seeded joint third-fourth and he is in my half of the draw. I don’t know him that well but he will still be a dangerous opponent.
“Still, I have been playing well and I’m ready to step up to the challenge,” added Eain Yow.
Eain Yow, who won the Asian Junior Under-17 title in Jordan in June, will face Norwegian Siguard Dahle in the first round. A win will pit him against either Singapore’s Chua Man Chin or Spain’s Alejandro Sotelo in the second round.
Besides Eain Yow, Malaysia can also bank on another BJSS trainee - Mohd Farez Izwan – in the Under-17 category. Farez is seeded joint third-fourth. Farez is drawn in the same half as Youssef and takes on Ireland’s Kelly Morgan in the first round.
A total of 19 Malaysians will be competing in the British Juniors, with 13 of them having earned their spots through the CIMB Foundation’s “overseas” incentive programme. The other six are self-funded.
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