KUALA LUMPUR: Up-and-coming squash player M. Nickhileswar is only 15 years old and already has big dreams.
The Penang-born's ultimate goal is to break into the top 10 on the PSA Tour before he turns 25.
Currently ranked No. 575, Nickhileswar decided to turn professional in July.
His best international outing this year was reaching the final of the PSA Satellite in Penang last month.
In the final, he lost 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 to compatriot Amir Amirul Azhar.
Nickhileswar, who trains under coach Aaron Soyza in Penang, said: "I did well in the four PSA Satellite tournaments this year and improved my ranking by 262 rungs in less than six months.
"My dream is to be a world-class player, and I hope to break into the top 10 before I turn 25," said Nickhileswar, who won the British Junior Open boys' Under-11 title in 2019 and the Under-15 Asian title in Pattaya last year.
Nickhileswar will begin his 2024 season at the British Junior Open in Birmingham on Jan 3-7, where he is seeded fifth in the Under-17 category.
"I hope to reach the semi-finals in Birmingham," he added.