Wrist Injury Threatens To Derail Thanusaa’s Junior Year Swansong

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Rising squash player U. Thanusaa’s hopes of ending her junior year on a high could be derailed by an injury sustained during the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak last month.

The 19-year-old helped Melaka bag the women’s doubles gold with Goh Zhi Xuan and silver in mixed doubles with Andrik Kai Sham Lim but now faces uncertainty as she prepares for senior-level competition.

World number 130 Thanusaa has had a fairly successful year, having emerged as champion at the Asian Junior Championships in Islamabad, Pakistan and helped the women’s team bag bronze at the World Junior Team Championships in Houston, Texas.

“This year was fairly successful, but now it's a bit hard as I am recovering from an injury... (I) hope I can continue the momentum.  

“I am trying to slowly adapt (to the senior level) because I need to put in a lot more effort as the competition is tougher. I have played in a few lower-tier tournaments... (I) need to play in more PSA (Professional Squash Association) Tour tournaments,” she said.

She told Bernama this after beating compatriot K. Vitrikashenie 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 in the first round of the Ace Challenger Tour 12k 2024 at the Jalan Duta Squash Centre here.

Thanusaa will take on Egyptian world number 101 Hana Ismail in the second round tomorrow.

“Tomorrow’s match will be challenging as she is a tough player, so I’ll need to be at my best. This is our first meeting, but I saw her playing against Ainaa Amani in the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy last week. 

“However, there's no pressure on me because she is seeded higher. I will just focus on playing my own game,” she said.

-- BERNAMA