Arnold arms squash revolution

MUMBAI, Oct 23: National squash coach Raymond Arnold is happy to be a cog in the wheel to what has been a revolution in the sport in Mala...

MUMBAI, Oct 23: National squash coach Raymond Arnold is happy to be a cog in the wheel to what has been a revolution in the sport in Malaysia. Junior star Ong Beng Hee catalysed this revolution, which had been set into motion by the Commonwealth Games held in capital Kuala Lumpur recently.

Arnold, in Mumbai with four junior players who are participating in the Little Masters Indian Open Junior squash tournament, said the Games have given the sport a shot in the arm. And Hee just strengthened the dosage.Hee won the World Junior title u-19 in August, the first from his country to do so, and he has ensured that the sport gains in popularity which is second to only badminton and football.

But still, believes Arnold, squash, along with 10-pin bowling, is the best sport in his country in terms of organisation and results.

With the government backing sportsmen all the way, the sport is on its way up, says the 40-year-old coach who runs a centre called Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur. Among his wards is Malaysia8217;shighest ranked 42 player Kenneth Low.The state runs the coaching programme in the country and sends its players abroad for international exposure. Result: There is no dearth of funds and encouragement for the players and they can play anywhere they want.

8220;Of course, they go to tournaments where they have a chance of making an impression,8221; said the coach. 8220;And then they work their way upwards till they can compete with the best.8221; Which is the reason why Sally Looi, 12, Teng Ooi Ean, 14, Trish Chuan, 16, and Wong Kim Lee, 12, are here to participate, seeking valuable international exposure.

Though each of these players is ranked among the top in their country, Arnold says they are not the best. The leading lights are home studying for examinations and they include promising players like 15-year-old Nicole David who is being allowed to grow on her own as a player and is being shielded from 8220;over-exposure8221;.

Appointed in 1994 as the national coach keeping the 1998 Commonwealth Games in view, Arnoldis quick to emphasise the contribution of Major retired S Maniam, chief coach of the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia. 8220;He is responsible for the change, the man behind the scenes.8221;

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The system, explained Arnold, works in such a way that children are picked from national camps from all over the country and put into the government-run residential school, Bukit Jalil, at Kuala Lumpur. 8220;The idea is to catch them young, when they are entering secondary school. And by the time they are finishing school, they can turn professional,8221; said Arnold.8220;This has caused the improvement in our general standards, since in our generation, we started playing when we were in our 20s,8221; said Arnold who was ranked No 1 in Malaysia from 1987-93.

The government also pays the Aring;ldquo;400-odd that is required by a player to enroll in the Professional Squash Association circuit. 8220;This amount can be returned by the player slowly,8221; he said.

The result: Malaysia finished eighth in the team championships of the World Openlast year which they hosted and Hee entered the last 16 in the Commonwealth Games individual championships.

Though the seeds have been sown and the results are emerging slowly, the man with a French beard says he would like to see a player or more in the top 10 within the next few years.