PETALING JAYA: National junior squash star Harleein Tan is chasing an eighth National Junior Championship title next week while juggling her studies at the same time.
The 16-year-old Kolej Tuanku Jaafar student faces exams early next month, shortly after the National Junior Championships run from Jan 21–25 in Kuala Lumpur.
As she bids to defend her girls’ Under-17 crown, Harleein admitted that staying mentally sharp between the court and the classroom has been a challenge, but credited a strong support system for keeping her on track.
“Balancing training and exam preparation requires discipline and good time management,” said Harleein.
“But the most challenging part is managing recovery and staying mentally fresh when switching between the two.
“I’m fortunate to have good support from my coaches, family, and teachers, which helps me stay organised and focused on both.”
Harleein, who won her fifth REDtone KL Junior Open title last month, said she would use the meet to gauge her form.
“Even though I’ve won it before, I’m treating this as a new tournament.
“Each match is a fresh start, and nothing can be taken for granted,” she said.
Harleein lost in the quarter-finals of the British Junior Open two weeks ago, but she made sure to take away lessons to incorporate into her game.
“I had the opportunity to play against four Egyptian players in a single tournament and their physicality showed me that squash is not just about skill alone.
“It’s also about mental sharpness and handling the pressure of being pushed physically.
“And these are the areas I’m continuing to work on and apply in my game,” she said.
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