PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s junior girls bagged the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) Outstanding Women’s Team of the Year for 2017.
The team, comprising S. Sivasangari, Andrea Lee, Aifa Azman and Zoe Foo, earned the recognition on the back of a silver medal at the World Junior Team Championship last year.
The quartet took Malaysia into the final for the first time in 10 years and were unlucky to lose 2-0 against powerhouse Egypt.
National junior coach Andrew Cross (pic) was also named the ASF Junior Coach of the Year.
It is the 31-year-old Englishman’s third award after 2013 and 2015 and it certainly speak volumes about the work he has done since joining the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) in 2007.
“It’s a well-deserved award for the team as they nearly toppled No. 1 seeds Egypt,” said SRAM director Mejar (Rtd) S. Maniam.
“Andrew has worked closely with the world junior squads and I’m pleased with his recognition.”
The trophies will be handed out during the Asian Team Championships that is held in Cheongju, South Korea, from March 21-25.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Datuk Alex Lee Outstanding Performance of the Year (senior)
Men: Max Lee (Hong Kong)
Women: Joshana Chinappa (India)
Hassan Musa Outstanding Performance of the Year (junior)
Boy: Velavan Senthilkumar (India)
Girl: Satomi Watanabe (Japan)
ASF Outstanding Team of the Year
Men’s Team: Hong Kong World Men’s Team 2017
Women’s Team: Malaysia Junior Girls’ Team 2017
ASF Coach of the Year: Faheem Khan (Hong Kong)
ASF Junior Coach of the Year: Andrew Cross (Malaysia)
ASF Development Coach of the Year: Masoud Ghareh Ziaeddini (Iran)
ASF Coaches Certificate of Recognition: Wong Wai Chung (China), Deepak Mishra (India), Seyed Mohammadhossein Sanaee (Iran)
