KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 ― The Malaysian squash team heading for the Women’s World Team Squash Championship was dealt a cruel blow when Low Wee Wern pulled out of the meet scheduled from Nov 28 to Dec 3 due to injury.
With the withdrawal of the 26-year-old from Penang, the Malaysian team, who will leave for Paris tomorrow morning, will be further depleted.
According the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) in a statement today, her place will be filled by Delia Arnold’s younger sister, Rachel.
The other members of the team comprise world number five, Datuk Nicol David, Delia and rising star S. Sivasangari.
While Nicol, 33, and Delia, 30, are seasoned campaigners in the competition, Sivasangari and Rachel will be making their debut.
“She called us this afternoon to inform us that she was forced to withdraw due to a recurrence of her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury on her left knee.
“She did an MRI scan and the doctor advised her to go for a surgery. We are at a loss as she is an excellent team player. It certainly is a sad news for the entire team. We will definitely miss her and we wish her well,” said SRAM coaching director Major (Rtd) S. Maniam, today.
SRAM had earlier set reaching the semifinals as the target but with the depleted team it will be an uphill task for them.
The Malaysian team are the third seeds in the competition and drawn in Pool C along Australia, Wales and Austria but with Wee Wern’s withdrawal, there will be a redraw.
“We will have to wait and see for the redraw. Our seeding will definitely be affected and chances are we will be in a tougher group,” said Maniam.
For the record, Malaysia finished runner-up to England (1-2) in the last meet in Canada, their best ever achievement in the history since the inception of the championship in 1979.
They ousted favourites Egypt 2-1 in the semifinals.
The team will be accompanied by Maniam as team manager and Peter Genever as coach. ― Bernama
