Haneesha sets sights on big junior farewell

V. Haneesha

PETALING JAYA: Rising squash player V. Haneesha (pic) is hoping to end her final year as a junior on a high in 2026.

The 17-year-old wrapped up this year with a confidence-boosting triumph at the REDtone KL Junior Open earlier this month and is eager to carry that momentum into the new year.

Top seed Haneesha captured the girls’ Under-19 title at the Jalan Duta Squash Courts, brushing aside second seed Anusha Raymond 11-6, 11-3, 11-4.

“I’m really proud of this win. My performance was good and I want to keep building on it,” said Haneesha, who had come close in previous editions.

She finished fourth in the Under-17 category last year and fifth the year before, making this her first title at the KL Junior Open.

Currently ranked in the 300s, Haneesha has set her sights on breaking into the top 100 by the end of next year – a target that appears within reach based on her recent form.

She also impressed at the National Championships in Penang in August, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to senior Aifa Azman.

Haneesha is hoping her performances will earn her a place in the squad for the World and Asian Junior Championships.

“With it being my last year as a junior, I really want to compete at the world and Asian and juniors one more time,” she said.

Haneesha will begin the new year on the international stage at the British Junior Open in Birmingham from Jan 2-6, where she will be aiming to improve on her 19th-place finish earlier this year.