Manila to host squash SEA Cup

MANILA, Philippines — The eighth SEA Cup Squash Championships will be held at the National Squash Center, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, in June with 11 gold medals at stake in men’s singles, women’s singles, mixed team, men’s jumbo doubles, women’s jumbo doubles, mixed jumbo doubles, U23 jumbo doubles, U23 international doubles, men’s international doubles, women’s international doubles and mixed international doubles.

The National Squash Center has two single courts adjustable to one international doubles and one separate jumbo doubles. The singles court is 6.4 meters wide and 9.75 meters long while the international doubles is 8.42 meters wide and the same length. The jumbo doubles is 7.62 meters wide and 13.72 meters long.

Southeast Asian Squash Federation and Philippine Squash Academy president Bob Bachmann said the SEA Cup will be preceded by two competitions in March, one in jumbo doubles and the other in the Masters category. There are currently 11 players in the national pool – Mak Begornia, 31; David Pelino, 30; Meljohn Aribado, 21; Van Aero Dalida, 20; Christopher Buraga, 17; Carl Carillo, 17; Jonathan Reyes, 17; Aysah Dalida, 31; Myca Aribado, 30; Lizette Reyes, 23 and Aerra Relano, 14. The country’s long-time No. 1 player Robert Garcia, 37, recently retired from the national team, known as Kayod Pilipinas, due to a knee injury.

Bachmann said the PSC Board is reviewing a request for former World No. 5 women’s player Low Wee Wern of Malaysia to serve as Philippine coach. Low, 33, anchored the Malaysian squash teams that won gold at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games. The plan is for Low to work with local coaches Edgar Balleber, Jaime Ortua and Jun Paganpan starting in March. “We’re appealing for PSC to approve Low’s appointment,” said Bachmann. “If it’s a go, Low will oversee the men’s and women’s teams. More importantly, she will create a sustainable grassroots development program and prepare us for the 2028 and 2032 Olympics.”