Victorious junior squash team returns home from Britain

SEPANG: The victorious national junior squash team arrived home at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here on Tuesday (Jan 9) after their historic achievement at the British Junior Open.

Malaysia achieved its best-ever haul, sweeping four titles in Birmingham on Sunday (Jan 7).

National No. 2 S. Sivasangari (Under-19), Azman sisters Aifa (Under-17) and Aira (Under-15) as well as K. Sehveetrraa (Under-13) all delivered as Malaysia was declared joint overall winners with Egypt for the first time since 1998.

The players were given a welcome reception by friends and family members as well as officials from the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) and the National Sports Council (NSC).

Also present at the airport were representatives from the CIMB Foundation, the main sponsor of the junior development programme since 2005.

"The juniors have done extremely well to win four titles. We knew we had a chance to win all four but they really delivered when it mattered," said SRAM director Mejar (Rtd) S. Maniam.

Meanwhile, CIMB Foundation chief executive officer Datuk Hamidah Naziadin advised the national juniors to continue reaching for greater heights.

"I'm extremely proud to see five of the CIMB Foundation-supported athletes clinch four titles at the British Juniors," said Hamidah.

"Their achievements speak volumes of their discipline and determination to compete at the international stage," she added.