ANIL Prakash has been watching squash since he was three years old. His father Prakash Mathavan used to take him to tournaments in Kota Kinabalu in 2009 and the boy was inspired to play the sport.
Now the eight-year-old is a rising star in the Negri Sembilan squash scene.
He only started playing squash last year but has won the boys’ Under-9 silver medal at the Negri Sembilan Junior Squash Closed Tournament.
Recently, he emerged as the boys’ Under-9 champion in the same tournament at the Seremban Two Sports Complex.
Anil outclassed Muhammad Danysh Islee Madzzuki 11-7, 16-14, 11-4 in the final.
In the semi-finals, Anil defeated Kheishav Kumar Saravanan 11-6, 11-4, 11-3, while Muhammad Danysh beat Tan Eu-Jeen 2-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.
Anil trains under coach Zulfiqar Khan at the Seremban Two courts and Zenith International School courts for two hours a day on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
In addition, he is also guided by his 14-year-old cousin brother Suthan Shuras, who is a squash player.
As Anil’s nine-year-old elder sister Karin is also a squash player, it has become a family sport now.
The Year Two pupil of SK Seremban 2B, said: “I love squash because it is a sport where I have to outsmart my opponents with my moves.
“It is fun and I enjoy playing with children around my age.
“On weekends, I play football in Seremban Two with my friends to build up my stamina and speed.
“My most memorable moment was when I won the gold medal after only collecting the silver last year.
“My mother, Suchitra Sivagurunathan sends me for training and my parents buy the necessary squash equipment.
“As a teacher, she always encourages me to excel in both studies and squash.
“The key to my success is to always follow my coach’s instructions and my parents’ advice.
“My ambition is to become the world’s best player one day like my idol Ramy Ashour of Egypt,” added Anil. By S. Solomon Samuel