SRAM and CIMB launch Junior Squash Development Programme and kick off junior circuits for 2012

Kuala Lumpur: Seven high achievers from last year’s CIMB Junior Squash Development Programme each received a certificate of achievement from CIMB today for their outstanding performances.

Effendy Shahul Hamid, Head of Group Marketing and Communications, CIMB Group handed out the certificates to Mohd Farez Izwan, Mohd Hafiz Zhafri, Mohd Syafiq Kamal, Ng Eain Yow, Andrea Lee, Nazihah Hanis and S. Sivasangari, in conjunction with the launch of CIMB Junior Squash Development Programme 2012 at the National Sports Council (NSC), Bukit Jalil.

Throughout 2011, these seven promising junior players have shown stellar performances under the CIMB Junior Squash Development Programme and were funded by CIMB Foundation to compete in regional and international tournaments. They certainly did the country proud by excelling in their respective age groups.

Ng Eain Yow triumphed at the prestigious British Junior Open 2011 and brought home the Boys Under-13 title. He was also the Boys Under-15 runner-up at the Asian Junior Squash Championships 2011 and most recently, the Boys Under-15 2nd runner-up at the British Junior Open 2012.

The other boys – Mohd Farez, Mohd Syafiq and Mohd Hafiz – also won tournaments last year. At the Asian Junior Squash Championships 2011, Mohd Farez and Mohd Syafiq bagged the Boys Under-13 and Under-15 titles respectively, while Mohd Hafiz won the Hong Kong Junior Open 2011 Boys Under-11 title.

The girls produced equally impressive results with Sivasangari emerging as the Girls Under-13 champ at the Asian Junior Squash Championships 2011. At the international level, she was placed fourth in the Girls Under-13 of the British Junior Open 2011 and third in 2012. Andrea Lee and Nazihah Hanis also had a good run, with Andrea coming home as the Girls Under-13 runner-up in 2011, while Nazihah managed a fourth place finish in the Girls Under-15 in 2012.

“We are very pleased with the quality of players who have benefited from the CIMB Junior Squash Development Programme. The incentives and benchmarking scheme which was introduced as an added encouragement to the players have proven to be fruitful, as it has produced us a British Junior Open and three Asian Junior Squash Championships victors,” said Effendy.

“This certainly reinforces CIMB’s confidence in its investment in junior squash. We are very proud to be able to see these talented juniors deliver outstanding performances and we hope this certificate of achievement will be a further motivation to them to work harder and flourish into world-class professional players,” he added.

The event also marked the launch of the 7th CIMB Rising Stars National Junior Circuit (Under 9, 11 and 13 categories) and the 3rd CIMB National Junior Circuit (Under 15, 17 and 19 categories) by the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) and title sponsor, CIMB Foundation. Both circuits are part of the CIMB Junior Squash Development Programme 2012.

The launch was officiated with Effendy handing over a mock cheque to Dato’ Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali, President of SRAM.

Both circuits have three legs each and each leg will be held in different states throughout the country to promote the sport nationwide. The joint grand finals (final leg) will be held at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil on 3-6 May 3012.

Dato’ Syed Mustaffa said, “With only 120 players when the junior circuit was first launched in 2006, SRAM now has approximately 700 players participating in both circuits. In addition to the two circuits this year, SRAM, with the support of CIMB Foundation, has added two more programmes to the CIMB Junior Squash Development Programme. We have initiated the State Junior Squash Development Programme whereby funding will be allocated to each state for their respective squash development programme.”

“The other initiative is the Project 100, whereby top junior players in the country will receive some funds to help them bridge the transition of turning professional and breaking into the Top 100 world rankings,” he added.

Other rewards offered by the programme include the overseas incentives where the champions of the two junior circuits will be funded to compete in the Hong Kong Junior Open. Winners of the Hong Kong Junior Open will then be sent to the prestigious British Junior Open. In addition, winners of the Asian Junior Squash Championships will also be funded to the British Junior Open. Participation in these top notch events benchmarks the top juniors against their regional and global peers.

Dato’ Syed also recorded his gratitude to CIMB Foundation on behalf of SRAM and the juniors, “The excellent partnership between CIMB and SRAM has been instrumental in helping SRAM achieve its target of ‘Becoming a Squash Powerhouse’.”

Highlights of top junior players’ achievements (in alphabetical order):

Calendar for the 7th CIMB Rising Stars National Junior Circuit 2012

Calendar for the 3rd CIMB National Junior Circuit 2012