Low Wee Wern is baffled. She and Ivan Yuen have been unable to get permission from the Immigration Department to compete in Egypt's El Gouna International while two other national squash teammates were given the green light.
It now appears that national women's No 1 Wee Wern will have to forgo the El Gouna meet on May 20-28 after the Immigration Department rejected her application for permission to travel.
She had made an appeal against the rejection but up to yesterday, there was no reply from the authorities.
And the Penangite had until yesterday to inform the Egyptian organisers of her travel plans, as required under Covid-19 bio-security measures.
"I'm really in a tight spot as I need to inform the organisers by May 10. Now without the approval, I can't even book my flights," said Wee Wern yesterday.
"It's a bit frustrating because previously for the Manchester Open (April 19-25), which has been postponed, I received a reply (approval) from the Immigration Department after five working days.
"So, I made sure to submit my application early for the El Gouna competition.
"But my first application was rejected because they said I didn't have supporting documents from the National Sports Council.
"For the second application, everything was submitted by the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) by April 30. But we've yet to hear anything.
"I have already been vaccinated. It is a very big blow to me without the Immigration Department's approval coming through in time.
"That would mean I need to pull out of the tournament in Egypt.
"I was looking forward to competing in a big tournament after such a long absence from international competition.
"It would be a huge miss as there aren't many tournaments left with the British Open now postponed until August," added Wee Wern.
SRAM coaching director Major (rtd) S. Maniam confirmed that Rachel Arnold and Aifa Azman have been given the green light to compete in the El Gouna event at press time.
"I'm not sure how the process works, but Rachel and Aifa have already gotten the approval. So, we're now just waiting on the approval for Wee Wern and Ivan (national No 2)," said Maniam.
Two other overseas-based Malaysian players are also scheduled to compete in the El Gouna championships. They are men's national No 1 Ng Eain Yow (based in Bristol, England) and women's national No 2 S. Sivasangari (based in New York).