PETALING JAYA: Squash coach David Palmer hopes to make more trips back to Malaysia to help the sport grow at all levels.
The former Australian world No. 1, who has been alongside Malaysia’s S. Sivasangari since her time at Cornell University, said he enjoys spending his time with aspiring players across the world, and made his return to Kuala Lumpur after 27 years to do just that.
Palmer led a four-day squash camp hosted by the Supreme Squash Club at the Bukit Bintang Squash Excellence Centre over the weekend.
"I do camps all over the world, and I love doing them," said Palmer.
"The kids were amazing this week and I love to be on court with them. Even after all these years, I still love to be involved at all levels.
"Obviously, I’d love to come back and work more closely with the juniors and coaches as well."
The 49-year-old, who is head squash coach at Cornell, took time to recognise the venue where the camp had been held, as the courts at the Bukit Bintang Boys School in Petaling Jaya had been given a new breath of life.
"Unfortunately, around the squash world, many times we hear of old facilities being closed, and we’re losing courts.
"The fact that what is done here is taking old squash courts at a school and rebuilding it, I think that’s amazing and sounds like it’s got a lot of tradition," he said.
Palmer’s last visit to Malaysia was at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, where he ended his run in the second round at the hands of compatriot Rodney Eyles.
He also competed in the men’s doubles category with teammate Paul Price, but they fell to Eyles and Byron Davis in the quarter-finals.
