PETALING JAYA: Ng Eain Yow (pic) has decided to participate solely in the Tournament of Championships (TOC) in New York from Jan 9-14. The reason for this choice is to prioritize completing his business management degree in the coming six months.
Despite experiencing a slight decline in his ranking from No. 18 to No. 19, national head coach Ajaz Azmat is confident that Eain Yow will not drop out of the top 20, even though he will be missing other tournaments on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) world tour.
The 25-year-old player, who made headlines for defeating former world champion Karim Abdel Gawad at the World Championships in Chicago in 2022, has shifted his focus temporarily away from professional squash to prioritize his education.
According to Ajaz, Eain Yow’s decision was made after discussions with the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) to ensure that he can balance his academic and sporting commitments effectively.
Eain Yow’s commitment to his studies has put his participation in the British Open at risk, which is set to take place from March 20 to 27. However, Ajaz is optimistic that the player’s ranking will not be heavily impacted by his absence from the tournament circuit.
In an earlier interview, Eain Yow expressed his desire to complete his degree as soon as possible to have a qualification to fall back on once his squash career comes to an end.
The star player’s decision to take a step back from the competitive scene has been supported by SRAM and his personal sponsors, who understand and respect his priorities.
Despite the temporary hiatus from tournaments, Eain Yow remains focused on maintaining his fitness and skill level in preparation for future competitions after completing his degree.
It is evident that the young athlete is taking a mature and forward-thinking approach to his career, which bodes well for his long-term success both on and off the squash court.
