Get Your Fact in Order.

I came across this article while browsing the NST Sports section and it seem that the honourable Datuk Aini who is quite respected by the squash fraternity needs to get better "advisors" (information). Some of the statement show how naive some of his "advisors" are. My points are in red. There are more than meet the eye in this matter but I will refrain from going deeper but maybe in time.

SRAM not churning stars

2010/05/28
By Devinder Singh

SELANGOR Squash Racquets Association chairman Datuk Aini Taib has lamented the lack of progress by the state's juniors under the guidance of national coaches.

Selangor has long been a source of players for the Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) with Ong Beng Hee and Ivan Yuen, to name two players, among those who have gone on to bigger things.

But it is those players who have stagnated after being handed to SRAM which has raised Aini's ire.

"There is a huge gap between the back-up players we have now and top players like Nicol David and Beng Hee. We at the state level have produced talented players after teaching them the basics but there is a limit to what we can do.

"That is where we hand them over to the national body to develop them further. It is their duty to help them excel and provide exposure opportunities. I find it perplexing as most of the players have asked to come over but I do agree with you that it is SRAM's duty to help them excel. But at times, it may take a little longer than what we Malaysians are used to. Please again check statistics of the top players in the world and what age do they generally become top performers.

"If anything, as to why Malaysia have a lack of back-up squash players, that is something you have to ask the national body," said Aini in response to a question after launching the Milo All-Stars Junior Squash Championships at the Astaka Courts in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

Several Selangor juniors, among them Tan Yan Xin and Yong Sue Ann, are struggling to show progress and fulfil their early promise despite being under the care of national coaches for the last two years. Yes, they are under the national training centre but does he know that there are other factors that determine progress? Some of it are dependent of genetic build, human growth and development, some of it priorities of the athlete and some of it their goals (parents as well). Some athletes (upon parents decision) can only spend about 10 hours a week on training but some can do 20 hours or more. Volume does play a part. Even then, one the the 2 girls have been here only for 11 months and not 2 years. Progress is not linear and there are more than meets the eye and so unless you know exactly what is happening, it may paint a different picture.

Two others -- Zul Azri Abd Aziz and Darren Subramaniam -- have left the national programme to train on their own with the latter now based in Singapore, where he is also pursuing his studies. Again, Datuk's advisors has got the facts wrong as Zul Azri is still training at the national training centre and has not left the program yet. As for Darren, even your Association didn't know he left for Singapore until he was there. We have extended help and there has yet to be any communication on that from his side. He has also refused to participate in any of the national tournaments while another national junior player in Singapore has been able to communicate, take a training program from us and also participate in national level tournaments.

If left unchecked, former SRAM vice president Aini warned Malaysia would soon be bereft of squash talent.

"We organise a junior competition to give exposure to our players at least cost possible. To send the players to the Scottish Junior Open for example is expensive and we can only send a handful," said Aini.

"But sad to say, more than half of the 400 players registered for this tournament are foreigners. I don't understand why states are not taking the opportunity to send as many of their juniors as possible and give their players a chance to compete." I'm surprised that Datuk Aini was not informed that the Milo All Star clashes with the MSSM? Don't blame the states for not sending. Know what is happening. I know that Datuk takes pride in the Milo All Star but can Datuk come and see the condition of the centre? Firstly, changing rooms are poor, courts are not in the best playing conditions (international events), scheduling that can be better and so on. Of course feedback has been given many times over but what has been done?

Top juniors from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and France will compete in the Milo All-Stars on June 7-12 along with several national juniors.

The girls Under-19 competition is a recognised Wispa Tour rising star event and offers ranking points. India's Ravi Dixit and Penang's Low Wee Nee are the top seeds in the boys' and girls' Under-19 events respectively.