PENANG JUNIOR OPEN

This year we had about 250 entries with India having the most foreign participants followed by Japan and Australia. We also had for the 1st time a Swedish participant. The ratio for Malaysians : foreigners was about 50 : 50. The tournament was runned smoothly and so much easier compared to the previous years because of the improvements we made. Added a PA system and had the army boys helping us out with the courts and refereeing. Wasn't the best refereeing but sufficient for the time being.

Need more help for next year and I hope that I will have a bigger budget for helpers/referees. I have been asked to make the event bigger but I think the numbers now are just nice. Any bigger and I think we will be too chaotic. I want to keep it as a smaller and more relaxing event for the foreign and outstation teams, not a massively big event.


The hardest part was that we had to immediattely prepare for the organising part as soon as we arrived from Alor Setar that night. Setting up the tournament control and putting up all the draws took a while. So pretty much had to stay the night at the courts as I finished everything at 2 a.m. Crazy? Nah! That's my life.....totally revolves around squash.


MILO ALL STAR

This was immediattely after Penang and it had 600+ entries. It became the biggest junior event ever held in the world. But it was the most chaotic as well. So stressful when we found out that we had to cover 3 venues, 2 in PJ and 1 in Shah Alam! Had to be up at 6.30am every morning because I covered the Shah Alam courts. Transport schedule was also another problem as it was not evenly scheduled. 1st bus at 7 a.m. and the next bus at 1 p.m. , just CRAZY!!!


I have stopped sending big numbers for this tournament for the last few years already and a few other states are following suit. The All Star is supposed to be the Malaysian Junior Open, so I only send the best and those who can compete at an international level. The rest that needs international exposure can use the Penang tournament as it is smaller and lower standard. We need to remember that as coaches we have to match the tournament to the ability of our players, not because there is funding for it.

Any way, the Milo All Star even received thumbs down from the foreigner who have been going there for many years. The comment was that it was getting too big and the organisation of it was going down. Time to buck up, you people!


That's all for the 2 tournaments. Next up will be MSSM.....and that will be a juicy write up.