Squash Success for Harleein
KTJ squash scholar, Harleein Tan, has made her school and country proud after winning the girls’ Under-13 title in the US Junior Open.
More than 850 players representing 41 nations competed in the four-day tournament, which utilised 42 courts at four different facilities including the Philadelphia Cricket Club and Drexel University, before Tuesday’s finals culminating at the Specter Center and Penn.
Harleein won in 5 sets against USA player, Reghan McLaughlin, in the semifinals. She was down 4-8 in the fifth set but persevered to win in 43 minutes. The match score: 8-11,11-5,11-8, 8-11, 11-9.
The final was against Egyptian player, Maya Mandour, and the match score was: 11-6, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6.
In response to her victory, Harleein said: "I am feeling wonderful about winning this title! The 2019 British Junior Open was my last platinum tournament, and I haven't been able to play an external tournament since due to the pandemic.
I would like to thank my parents for making this happen during the pandemic. I would also like to thank my coaches Zulfiqar Khan for coaching me since I was 6 years old, my school coach Hafifi Tarmizi and coach John Heng.
I would also like thank my school, Kolej Tuanku Jaafar, the Principal Dr Glenn Moodie and trustees, especially Tunku Imran, for their unwavering support. They allocated a court just for me throughout the pandemic to help me keep fit for my matches, and I can't thank them enough for that.
I would like to win more titles for my country and I am determined to train harder once I am back in Malaysia. Malaysia Boleh!"
