PETALING JAYA: New colours but it is the same ambition for rising squash player M. Nickhileswar.
The 18-year-old, who represented his home state Penang at the previous Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Sarawak, is now playing for hosts Selangor in his second stint.
"I’d be lying if I said there was no pressure because I am playing for Selangor and we are the hosts," said Nickhileswar.
"But I think I’m managing it well. The team’s support has been amazing. They have accepted me as one of their own and the environment is fantastic.
"Mentally, I’m in a good place. I’ve been training hard and I’m focused. I know what I need to do and I’m using the crowd’s support to my advantage.”
Nickhileswar has already improved on his previous Sukma outing, where he bowed out in the second round.
The second seed, who received a first round bye, reached the quarter-finals after beating Perlis’ Ifwat Zulkifli 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 in 32 minutes at the Astaka MBPJ Squash Complex yesterday.
Nickhileswar said his switch to Selangor was part of his long-term plans but he remains close to his former Penang teammates.
"My former teammates are still supporting me, and I support them too. Nothing has changed," he said.
Nickhileswar will face Kedah’s Aqil Mirza Naim Khairul Fariz in the quarter-finals today. Aqil beat teammate Haiqal Hazim Syarudin 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 in the second round.
RESULTS
Boys
First round: Veroon Heng (Mel) bt W. Lokkhesh (Nse) 11-3, 11-7, 11-5; K. Khailash (FT) bt Azim Khairul (Joh) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2; Yan Tho Wei (Pen) bt Normukhlis Rapi (Pah) 11-4, 11-5, 11-1; Ivan Chang (Pen) bt Amir Fakri Rozi (Kel) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5; Jayden Oon (Ter) bt Elham Mirza Nizam (Joh) 11-1, 11-0, 11-1; Isaac George (Nse) bt Haziq Afiq Mohd Hairul (Mel) 11-2, 11-7, 11-4; Raihan Mohd Saiful (Pah) bt Addin Iqwan Hilman (Ter) 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7; Nabil Iman Shahrizan Azrl (Per) bt Tristan Andreas Muyou Angkaus (Sab) 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-8; Haiqal Haziq Syarudin (Ked) bt Nik Irman Dasuki Norifaizal (Kel) 10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6; Ifwat Zulkifli (Per) bt Zidane Zicqree Zairul Anuar (Sab) 11-4, 11-2, 13-11; Raziq Putra Mohd Fakhrur (Pah) bt K. Subassh (Prk) 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7; Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz (Ked) bt Yuan Yung Shi (Swk) 11-2, 11-4, 11-2.
Second round: M. Nickhileswar (Sel) bt Ifwat Zulkifli (Per) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7; Low Wa Sern (Prk) bt Veroon Heng (Mel) 11-4, 11-1, 11-5; K. Khailash (FT) bt Yan Tho Wei (Pen) 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5; Jayden Oon (Ter) bt Ivan Chang (Pen) 4-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-4; Altamis Aqhar Sallam Sufian (Swk) bt Isaac George (Nse) 10-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10; Tay Jun Qian (Sel) bt Raihan Mohd Saiful (Pah) 10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7; Raziq Putra Mohd Fakhrur (Pah) bt Nabil Iman Shahrizan Azrol (Per) 11-9, 11-4, 11-9; Aqil Mirza Naim Khairul Fariz (Ked) bt Haiqal Haziq Syarudin (Per) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2.
Girls
First round: C. Sailajja (Sel) bt Nur Ellysya Ameerah Mohd Nazri (Pah) 11-6, 11-2, 11-6; K. Sivapriyankaa (Sel) bt Ayesha Rania Syed Kebir (FT) ret; Anrie Goh (Ked) bt Sabrina Nur Batrisya Shamsul Baharin (Kel) 11-5, 11-2, 11-6; Jinoreeka Ning (Prk) bt Annabelle Marie Teo (Swk) 11-6, 11-4, 11-3; C. Sashimi (Prk) bt P. Kuviraa (Pen) 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7; Amber Kristy Muyou (Sab) bt T. Venushana (Joh) 11-3, 15-12, 11-9; T. Dakshayani (FT) bt Safiyya Ranea (Per) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3; Doyce Lee (Sab) bt Wan Zara Fakhira (Per) 11-3, 11-8, 11-4; Yek Rui Jean (Pen) bt Nur Aneese Farisha Ahamat Fikri (Kel) 11-3, 11-1, 11-1; Nor Adibah Ja’afar (Pah) bt Amirah Adani Azmi (Joh) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10.
Second round: K. Sehveetrraa (Ked) bt C. Sailajja (Sel) 12-10, 11-6, 11-6; Anrie Goh (Ked) bt K. Sivapriyankaa (Sel) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4; Jinoreeka Ning (Prk) bt Chen yu Jie (Nse) 11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6; Harleein Tan (Nse) bt C. Sashimi (Prk) 11-2, 11-0, 11-4; Whitney Isabelle Wilson (Swk) bt Amber Kristy Muyou (Sab) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3; T. Dakshayani (FT) bt Goh Zhi Xuan (Mel) 9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5; Doyce Lee (Sab) bt Yek Rui Jean (Pen) 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9; U. Thanusaa (Mel) bt Nor Adibah Ja’afar (Pah) 11-3, 11-2, 11-2.
