Rachel going big in 2025

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Rachel Arnold is setting big goals for herself in 2025.

The 28-year-old is currently world No. 17 but is aiming to break into the top 10 next year, and she is making early preparations to get the year started.

Rachel is heading to Florida soon for a training stint, and will be based there until her first competition of the next year at the Tournament of Champions in New York from Jan 23-30.

After concluding the World Team Championships in Hong Kong last week, Rachel won’t have a long break but is looking forward to spending the holidays with her family.

“It is not that long of a break, but there’s nothing special about the Christmas celebrations this year.

“I’ll be leaving for Florida for training so maybe just dinner with the family just before Christmas,” she said.

Rachel had put on a good performance during the World Team Championships, but luck was not on the team’s side as they fell 0-2 to the United States in the semi-finals, with Rachel losing to Amanda Sobhy.

But 2024 has been a good year for Rachel, having made an unbelievable jump from No. 29 at the start of the year to No. 17.

She also captured her biggest career title after winning the China Open last month.

To kick off 2025, Rachel will meet No. 9 Belgium player Nele Coll at the Tournament of Champions.

Rachel will be hoping to come into the match with something new as she has never beaten Coll in their four previous meetings.