KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s squash sponsors must invest more in grassroots development instead of focusing solely on elite athletes and medal prospects if the country is to maintain its standing in the sport, says newly elected Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin Tuanku Muhriz.
With squash set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, Tunku Zain said Malaysia must seize the opportunity to build on renewed interest in the sport while ensuring a steady supply of young talent to sustain its future success.
He said the country had enjoyed considerable momentum since the rise of former world number one Datuk Nicol David, but warned that continued investment was necessary to prevent that progress from fading.
“Ever since Nicol David, we’ve had a lot of interest in squash. There’s been this momentum, but I think we cannot afford to lose it. We must continue investing at the grassroots level,” he told Scoop.
“One of the problems in Malaysia is that a lot of sponsors are only interested in the elite athletes. But unless you invest in grassroots development, there won’t be another generation of elite athletes.”
Drawing on his eight years as president of the Negeri Sembilan Squash Association, Tunku Zain said state associations needed stronger backing from SRAM to expand participation, nurture emerging players and maintain development programmes.
While state bodies should continue pursuing their own sponsorship arrangements, he said the national association had a role in helping them secure the resources required to develop talent.
“Obviously, the states can and should seek their own sponsorship whenever they can. But the reality is that they also need help from the national association,” he said.
Tunku Zain said he would work to restore relationships with corporate sponsors that had previously supported Malaysian squash, while seeking new partners ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut.
He noted that some companies with a history of supporting the sport had scaled back their involvement, but hoped to bring them back into the fold.
“I’m going to try to get some of our old sponsors back. There were some legacy sponsors for squash before COVID-19, and hopefully, I can try to bring some of them back.
“But I also hope to attract new sponsors because we do have the Olympic Games coming up. I hope to capitalise on the excitement surrounding that,” he said.
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd remains among the corporate supporters of Malaysian squash, while Tunku Zain recalled YTL Corporation Bhd’s involvement in the sport about two decades ago.
However, he stressed that sponsorship should extend beyond the pursuit of immediate competitive results to ensure Malaysia continues producing players capable of competing at the highest level.
“I want sponsors to realise that it’s not all about pouring money into gold medals. It’s also about investing in the next generation,” he said.
Tunku Zain said he was not planning sweeping changes at SRAM, preferring to build on the association’s existing strengths while applying lessons from his experience in Negeri Sembilan.
“I don’t really want to change everything too much. I think I’ve inherited a strong association.
“So I don’t want to be radical. I just want to bring in some of the lessons I’ve learnt from the recent past, which, as I said, means continued investment at the very grassroots level to build the pipeline,” he said.
He also highlighted squash’s multiracial appeal, describing it as an important part of the sport’s identity in Malaysia that should be maintained.
“Squash is truly a multiracial sport in Malaysia, and I want to make sure that continues as well,” he said.
On the competitive front, Tunku Zain expressed confidence that national player S. Sivasangari could climb further in the world rankings after reaching a career-high fourth place.
“Of course, being world number four is great, and Sivasangari is still young. So I think in a few years, she can be even better,” he said.
Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow are among Malaysia’s leading medal prospects as the country prepares for squash’s first appearance at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Succeeds Monteiro after six years
Tunku Zain succeeds Gerard Monteiro, who headed SRAM from 2020, following the association’s annual general meeting.
Scoop reported on October 8 that Monteiro would step down after six years in the role, with Tunku Zain identified as his successor ahead of the meeting.
Monteiro said he would remain available to offer guidance but emphasised that his successor should have the freedom to develop his own blueprint for the association.
A former squash player, Tunku Zain spent eight years leading the Negeri Sembilan Squash Association, where he was involved in grassroots initiatives to introduce the sport to more young people and identify promising players.
He is also the founding president of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). – October 18, 2026