The Perak Tennis Under-12 and Under-15 girls flew the Perak flag high at the recently-concluded Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Tennis competition winning gold medals in their respective categories at the nationals held from August 5 to 9 in Johor.
The U-12 girls’ team, comprising Sashmini Chandran, Shihomi Leong, Hana Mohd Sahi, Nur Shafiqah and Nur Daniela beat Selangor in the qualifying stage to meet Sarawak in the finals, securing them their hard earned gold medals. The U-15 girls’ team, comprising Sukirthi Chandran, Hannah Yip, Malikah Asna, Nur Alia Nabilah and Vinothini also beat Selangor in the qualifying round, and breezed through to the finals overcoming the Sarawak team to clinch the gold medal.
Kudos to SK (P) Methodist singles player Sukirthi whose win over Sarawak’s Angelina Ong gave the U-15 girls’ team the winning edge in the finals. This achievement was especially sweet for Sukirthi who had lost to the same opponent in numerous matches over the years. Her sister Sashmini, who played first singles in the U-12 category against Selangor, also helped her team advance to the finals.
Representing Perak for the third time in MSSM, 10-year-old Shihomi Leong of SJK(C) Poi Lam cited hard work and good team effort for the U-12 girls’ success. It was a sweet finish for this chilli padi who hopes to turn pro one day, when she beat her 12-year-old opponent from Sarawak 6-3, 6-0 helping her team clinch the gold medal.
She credits all her team mates, teachers, supportive parents and coaches for Perak’s success.
“All of us from the Perak team had a lot of fun, cheering and supporting each other during the matches. We felt very confident after beating Selangor and with the team’s support behind us, the U-12 and U-15 girls’ teams were able to win the gold medals”.
The U-15 boys were equally elated when they beat Selangor for the first time in the preliminaries, but were unfortunately not able to beat Sarawak in the semi-finals. The team, comprising Mitsuki Leong, Pavel Liam Thadani, Azfar Haruya, Dhiaurrahman and Mohd. Khaiqal Idzham, won the bronze medal.
The U-12 and U-18 boys also won bronze medals in their respective categories, giving Perak the highest medal tally ever received in MSSM tennis with two golds and three bronzes. The U-18 girls reached the quarter-finals.
Syabas to our Perak tennis MSSM team! You have made us all very proud!
Wern Sze Gill
