Malaysian female coach to handle squash squad

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IN timely celebration of International Women’s Month, the Philippine Squash Academy has set a precedent by a hiring a  Malaysian female coach, a former World No. 5, in mentoring the national squash team.

Wee Wern Low, who announced her retirement from competitive squash last February, has begun working with the PH squash players for nearly two weeks now after declining a much higher offer from the Singapore Squash Rackets Association headed by Singaporean businessman Patrick Thio.

“It’s a miracle that we got her (Low), actually,” acknowledged PSA president Robert Bachmann, who had sought the help of Malaysian squash legend Ong Beng Hee in looking for a new coach during the world team squash championships in New Zealand last December.

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“We had breakfast and one of the coach that Hee recommended was Low, so I told my staff to contact her right away,” Bachmann recalled.

But the squash chief had second thoughts of hiring once he knew that the Singapore association led by Singaporean multi-millionaire Thio was also keen in getting the Malaysian’s services.

“But Low surprisingly came back to us and merely said to make her an offer,” said Bachmann, who then got in touch with PSC commissioner Bong Coo, who has oversight over squash, over the possibility of hiring the Malaysian athlete.

“After some talks, surprisingly the PSC board granted my request regarding her salary plus housing to hire her. I told my brother (PSC chairman Richard Bachmann) and the rest of the board how fortunate that we got her,” Bachmann said.

In fact, he disclosed that Low accepted the undisclosed offer that was merely half of what the Singapore federation was willing to pay her for her services.

Low informed Bachmann that “I started from nowhere so this is my way of paying back the sport, something that I would not be able to do if I took the offer from Singapore,” the PSA chief quoted her as saying from their initial conversation.

“One of the first things she did was to look up their physical conditioning regimen with PSC’s Medical and Scientific Athlete Services. She wanted it to be tailored to the needs of a squash athlete and not just a general workout,” Bachmann said.

The Malaysian also wrote on her Facebook page her excitement over being hired as the new head coach of “Kayod Pilipinas,” the moniker of the national squash team.

“Two weeks ago I announced my retirement from professional squash and today I am excited to share that I am officially the Head Coach of Philippines National Squash Team!” she exclaimed.

“I didn’t quite expect this to happen so soon but I am looking forward to working with the players here towards a promising future filled with hope, growth, teamwork and success ,” she added.

“Also just in time to celebrate International Women’s Day and being the first female to be appointed to this role! Let’s go!” she enthused.

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