Rising Squash Talent Wa Sern Targets Strong Debut In SEA Games Jumbo Doubles

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Rising national squash player Low Wa Sern who is set to make his SEA Games debut next month, is determined to deliver a strong performance in his South East Asian (SEA) Games debut in the men’s jumbo doubles event in Thailand from Dec 9 to 22.

The 18-year-old from Ipoh is coming off an impressive season after winning the boys’ Under 19 title at the 2025 Asian Junior Championships in South Korea last July - a feat that further cemented his stature as one of the country’s brightest prospects.

Wa Sern said the main challenge ahead lies in the limited time to build on-court synergy with his partner Harith Danial Jefri.

“It's definitely an honour to represent Malaysia and I'm really grateful that I got selected. My partner and I have been training hard and he is coming back in two days (from oversea) and we have less than two weeks to prepare for the Games.

“We will just be trying to get the best chemistry between us, so that will probably be the main challenge in our preparation,” he said when met during a visit by Malaysia’s deputy chef de mission to the 2025 SEA Games, Datuk Kenny Goh to the squash training venue here today.

On transitioning from singles to the jumbo doubles format, Wa Sern acknowledged the differences but was confident of adapting well.

“It's really different compared to singles as I've been playing singles for years, and this is probably my first jumbo doubles event. As long as you know how to control your strength, it’s not a big difference. The court is bigger, but at least I have a partner to cover my back,” he said.

The jumbo doubles is a format similar to other doubles events but it is played on a wider and longer court, thus testing the players’ stamina.

This is the first time Malaysia is sending representatives in the jumbo doubles, including the mixed Jumbo Doubles event, as squash is offering only four gold medals in this edition. Malaysia is also taking part in the men’s and women’s singles events.

Squash was not contested at the last two SEA Games - 2021 in Hanoi, Vietnam and 2023 in Cambodia - its return in Thailand is particularly meaningful for Malaysia as the country dominated with four golds, a silver and a bronze the last time it was contested in the 2019 Games in the Philippines.

-- BERNAMA