Unseeded Phl squash bets draw tough foes

MANILA, Philippines - It will take four straight wins to capture a gold medal in individual women’s squash and every step of the way is a major obstacle for two unseeded Filipina bets at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou.

Eight countries are represented with two players each in the ladies squash event at the Guangzhou Town Gymnasium starting tomorrow. The eight survivors in the round-of-16 advance to play in the quarterfinals on Friday with the winners moving on to face off in the semifinals the next day. The finals are set on Sunday.

Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Japan, host China and the Philippines are competing for the individual ladies championship. World No. 1 and defending Asian Games champion Nicol David of Malaysia is the hot favorite to bag the gold. Seven of the world’s top 50 players are in the derby, namely, David, No. 15 Annie Au of Hong Kong, No. 17 Low Wee Wern of Malaysia, No. 27 Ho Ling Chan of Hong Kong, No. 32 Dipika Pallikal of India, No. 33 Joshna Chinappa of India and No. 43 Song Sun Mi of South Korea.

Despite the odds, the two Filipina teenagers Ayssa Dalida and Myca Aribado are optimistic of making their presence felt. They left Manila for Guangzhou with coach Jaime Ortua last Monday and will be back on Nov. 27.

“We’re ready to do our best,” said the 18-year-old Dalida, a University of Makati sophomore. “We were quartered at the ULTRA for over a month to train six days a week. Nobody is expecting us to bring home a medal. That’s why we’re playing without any pressure because we have nothing to lose.”

Aribado, 17, said she’s excited and nervous about representing the country but confident of acquitting herself on the court. She was advised by two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Robert Garcia to give it her all. “Kuya Robert told me playing for our country is a rare opportunity and I shouldn’t waste it,” said Aribado, a Makati High School senior. Dalida’s mentor, on the other hand, is former national player Cheli Espiritu-Tabuena.

Dalida takes on Japan’s Misaki Kobayashi while Aribado faces Chinappa in the first round. If Dalida prevails, she will meet the winner of the match between Chan and Pakistan’s Moqaddas Ashraf in the quarterfinals. If Aribado hurdles Chinappa, she will take on the winner of the match between David and Korea’s Eun Ok Park in the quarterfinals.

Ortua, a national coach the past 17 years, said the girls will gain a wealth of experience in Guangzhou for the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta next year.

“We’re looking long-term,” said Ortua. “Ayssa and Myca are the future of Philippine ladies squash. They’ve trained hard for the Asian Games. I can see the improvement in their shot selection, positioning and power. They’re practicing volley drops, nicks, control of the middle and close-to-the-wall length shots. They’re now quite consistent.”

The national squash team recently got a boost when Sonak Sports head Anil Buxani presented the players and coaching staff with top-of-the-line Asics squash shoes, Asics shirts, Asics socks and Asics sports bags for their use in Guangzhou. “Squash is a sport where Filipinos can excel internationally,” said Buxani. “We are committed to support the development of Philippine squash in any way we can.”

Dalida said 50 percent of winning in squash involves mental toughness. “At the Asian Games level, the players won’t be too far away from each other in terms of skills and playing ability,” she said. “What will make the difference is the mind-set. It’s all about psychology. It shouldn’t matter to us if we’re unseeded even if we’re playing some of the world’s best. You never know what could happen on the court.”