Latest news with #Jinoreeka
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
No coach, no problem: Squash prodigy Jinoreeka Ning aces in court and classroom, with online training, offline spars and global ambitions
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Ipoh-born squash prodigy Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan is away from school most of the time, smashing her way to victory in squash courts. Yet, the Form Three student at Ipoh's Methodist Girls' School excels on both fronts — largely thanks to online guidance. Her father Manivannan Ramasamy, 54, spends RM1,000 every month to provide her with online tuition so that she can keep pace with her peers and excel academically. But he spends at least seven to eight times more than that every month to support his daughter's squash dreams. Despite not having a formal coach, Jinoreeka is now a rising force in the junior squash circuit — thanks to a training programme designed by Egypt's squash legend Omar Abdel Aziz. Since 2023, Jinoreeka has trained face-to-face with Omar in Cairo only eight times — with each trip costing around RM30,000. But, Manivannan has been paying US$250 (RM1,054) to Omar every month for Jinoreeka's fitness training sessions, held online four times a week. 'Omar is actually very funny, friendly and is really a good coach,' Jinoreeka told Malay Mail when interviewed recently. Since 2023, Jinoreeka has trained face-to-face with Omar in Cairo only eight times — with each trip costing around RM30,000. — Picture courtesy of Manivannan Ramasamy Omar is widely credited for producing three world-renowned squash champions from Egypt: Karim Abdel Gawad (former World No. 1), Tarek Momen (former World No.3) and Hania El Hammamy (currently World No.3). Jinoreeka became fascinated with Omar's training style after watching him train El Hammamy — her squash idol — as she loved her aggressive and attacking style of play. 'She has everything. I love her footwork, her squash, and she picks up the ball all the time,' Jinoreeka said in awe. Manivannan, a former hockey champion who won the 1992 Razak Cup for Perak, now oversees his daughter's training and accompanies her to training and tournaments abroad. With squash being a costly endeavour, Manivannan stretches every ringgit that he makes from his restaurant in Ipoh Garden to sustain his daughter's dream. 'She loves chicken curry. So, I will take the spices to cook for her when we are abroad,' he said. Meanwhile, his wife Toh Chee Kuan holds the fort at the restaurant, churning out Ipoh's signature dish like Hainanese chicken rice and taugeh (beansprout) chicken. On weekends, the couple drive down to The Lakeview Club in Subang Jaya for their daughter to spar with other local squash talents. Jinoreeka Ning (centre) with her mother Toh Chee Kuan (left) and her father Manivannan Ramasamy at The Lakeview Club, Subang Jaya July 19, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif For the sparring sessions alone, the couple sets aside RM1500 every week to cover travel, accommodation and food costs as well as providing financial tokens for her sparring partners. Yet, Manivannan and his wife have no qualms as they witness their daughter making strides almost every other week now. Just a week after her second victory in the Asian Junior Squash Championships (Under-15) in early July, Jinoreeka won the Penang International Junior Open (Under-17) title. Now, she wants to wrest the Hong Kong Junior Squash Open title next month — this time in the Under-17 category. She was the tournament's Under-15 champion at the 2024 edition. Her next aim is the 2026 British Open Junior and after that, she wants to represent Malaysia in the 2027 World Junior Squash Championships — but the bigger her dreams get, so does the cost for her parents. Omar is moving to the United States next year, but he has promised to continue overseeing Jinoreeka's squash training regimen. 'We are planning to stick with Omar for another three to four years and that means spending another RM40,000 per trip to the US to train under him. 'So, I'm going to start writing for sponsorships,' Manivannan said. Now, she wants to wrest the Hong Kong Junior Squash Open title for the second time — but this time in the Under-17 category. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Jinoreeka was part of the Yayasan Sime Darby programme last year and she was offered RM6,000 for her expenses to compete at the Hong Kong Junior Squash Open, but the sponsorship has since ended. 'The Perak Squash Association and Perak chapter of the National Sports Council (MSN) occasionally provide a small financial token for selected international tournaments. 'Jinoreeka was also offered a placement at the Bukit Jalil Sports School last year, but we were reluctant to take it. 'I was concerned that it might upset her consistent performance as she has adapted to Omar's training regimen. 'The plan is already working well and I don't want to risk changing it. 'Omar has produced three world champions and it is not easy to pull that feat — and I want Jinoreeka to follow him,' he said. As for Jinoreeka, she may have picked up the racquet at the age of eight because 'it was fun hitting the ball around' but now, she is determined to make history with it.
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Coachless Jinoreeka captures another title
KUALA LUMPUR: Squash player Jinoreeka Ning, who is without a coach, continues to shine. After winning the girls' Under-15 Asian Junior Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea recently, she added the Penang International Junior Open Under-17 title to her collection today. Joint fifth seed Jinoreeka, who is from Perak, stunned Hong Kong's top seed Chloe Lo 12-10, 11-7, 11-4 in the final at the Nicol David International Squash Centre. Though Jinoreeka does not have a coach in Malaysia, she follows a training programme given by Egyptian Omar Aziz. Her parents, R. Manivannan and Toh Chee Kuan have spent RM250,000 for her to train under Omar in Cairo eight times since 2023. Jinoreeka said although she is 14, she did not feel nervous playing against older opponents. "My goal is to feature in the 2027 Junior World Cup," she said. Manivannan said he hopes Jinoreeka would be able to get sponsors as she has won a total of 22 titles.
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Perak squash in crisis despite producing two Asian Junior champions
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a golden weekend for two junior squash players from Perak, but behind their triumphs lies a troubling tale of internal conflict that's crippling the sport's development in the state. Despite producing two Asian Junior champions on Saturday, the Perak Squash Association (PSA) is in disarray due to prolonged infighting between rival factions, and shockingly, PSA has no coaches for its players. Yet, Ipoh-born Jinoreeka Ning, 15, rose above the chaos to claim the girls' Under-15 title at the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea. She achieved the feat without a coach in Perak, relying instead on the unwavering support of her parents. Another Perak-born talent, Low Wa Sern, clinched the boys' Under-19 crown, although he now trains and studies at Trinity College in Connecticut, far removed from the troubled system back home. For Jinoreeka, a Form Three student at Methodist Girls' School in Ipoh, success has come through grit, passion, and personal sacrifice from her family. Her parents, R. Manivannan and Toh Chee Kuan, have spent around RM250,000 since 2023 to fund her training stints in Cairo under top Egyptian coach Omar Aziz, best known for mentoring world No. 3 Hania El Hammamy. The long-standing dysfunction within PSA has drawn concern from the national body. "This has been going on for too long. We've tried our best to resolve it, but our hands are tied," said Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Gerard Monteiro. Monteiro added that PSA officials have not attended SRAM's annual general meetings for several years, further straining the relationship. As for Jinoreeka's development, Monteiro said SRAM had offered her a place to train and study at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) last year, and confirmed that she is also enrolled in the Sime Darby Foundation programme. "We encourage any player facing issues with their state associations to contact us directly," said Monteiro.
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Jinoreeka's rise in squash fuelled by parents' dedication and big spending
KUALA LUMPUR: Parents play a pivotal role in shaping their children's futures — just ask former state hockey player R. Manivannan and his wife Toh Chee Kuan. The Ipoh-based couple have poured in time, energy and over RM250,000 to support their only child, rising squash star Jinoreeka Ning ( The duo run a humble restaurant in Ipoh Garden specialising in curry mee and Hainanese chicken rice, but their greatest pride is Jinoreeka, who is fast making a name for herself on the junior squash circuit, both locally and internationally. The 15-year-old bagged her second continental title on Saturday, clinching the Girls' Under-15 crown at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea. It was her second Asian Junior title after winning the Under-13 crown in China two years ago. Remarkably, Jinoreeka, a Form Three student of Methodist Girls' School in Ipoh, who picked up squash at the age of eight, has amassed 20 junior titles without a full-time coach. "I love squash because it's fast-paced and challenging," said Jinoreeka, who dreams of becoming a world-class player within five years. With no coach based in Ipoh, Jinoreeka travels to Cairo for training stints under renowned Egyptian coach Omar Aziz — best known for working with world No. 3 Hania El Hammamy. "I saw Omar on television coaching Hania and told my dad that I wanted him as my coach," said Jinoreeka. "We got in touch and he agreed. When I'm back in Ipoh, I stick to the training programme he provides." Her parents were in the stands to witness her latest triumph in Korea, spending RM10,000 just to be there. Despite their business commitments, Manivannan and his wife prioritise their daughter's budding career. "I've travelled with Jinoreeka to Cairo eight times in the last two years, spending over RM250,000," said Manivannan, 54, who played for Perak and Maybank in hockey. "I even cook our meals when we travel. We want her to be as good as the Egyptians. That's why we're making all these sacrifices." When back in Malaysia, Manivannan drives his daughter to Kuala Lumpur on weekends for sparring sessions at Lake View Club and Jalan Duta Courts. "We're doing everything we can to help her succeed," he added. "Our dream is for Jinoreeka to compete at the British Junior Open next year." Manivannan was part of the Perak side that won the Razak Cup in 1992, and now, more than 30 years later, he's working hard to help his daughter script her own sporting legacy.
New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Coachless Jinoreeka defies odds, wins Asian Junior Squash crown
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Jinoreeka Ning pulled off a remarkable feat at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in South Korea by winning her second continental title without a coach in her corner. The second seed stormed to the girls' Under-15 crown on Saturday, beating India's unseeded Saanvi Kalanki 11-4, 11-6, 12-10 in Gimcheon. It marks her second Asian Junior triumph, following her Under-13 win in Dalian two years ago — both achieved without formal coaching support at home. "I'm happy to win in straight games, especially in my first meeting against Saanvi," said Jinoreeka, a Form Three student at Methodist Girls School in Ipoh. With no squash coach currently based in Perak, Jinoreeka trains by following a programme designed by Egypt's Omar Aiz. Her father, R. Manivannan, revealed the family spent RM30,000 for a two-week training stint in Cairo in January. "She worked with Omar in Cairo, and since then, she's been following his programme on her own," said Manivannan. "We hope this win will inspire my daughter to achieve greater heights in the sport." Jinoreeka will now compete in the Under-17 category at next week's Penang Junior Open. Meanwhile, Low Wa Sern capped off his junior career in style by claiming the boys' Under-19 title. The second seed, based at Trinity College in Connecticut, outlasted top seed and home favourite Na Jooyoung 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 13-15, 11-5 — repeating his 2023 Under-17 final win over the same opponent in Dalian. "This is a special win — my last as a junior," said Wa Sern. "All my hard work over the past eight months in the US has paid off. We were both physically drained in the decider, but I stayed focused and fought for every point." Wa Sern will now prepare for the World Junior Championships in Cairo from July 21-26. However, it wasn't all good news for Malaysia. Top seed M. Nickhileswar failed to retain his boys' Under-17 title, going down 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 to India's third seed Aryaveer Dewan in a one-sided final. In the girls' Under-17 category, second seed Harleein Tan was denied by top seed Helen Tang of Hong Kong, losing 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7 in a tightly contested four-game final.
