KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — Asia’s junior biggest squash championship, the REDtone KL International Junior Open 2019, has attracted 860 players from 20 countries to participate in its 13th edition to be held from Dec 3 to 8.

Squash Racquets Association of Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur (SRAFTKL) president, Steven Kwan said the number of players had increased tremendously from 2014 to 2016, with 600 participants, followed by 700 participants between 2017 and 2018.

“This surely augurs well not only for the country and organisers but also for the title sponsor, REDtone. The tournament has made an impressive impact since 2014. Now for the third year running, it has become a platinum event.

“I am glad that this year we have reached the benchmark,” he told reporters at the KL Junior Squash Championships 2019 press conference today.

Kwan also acknowledged the sponsor for its continuous feat and proud to be associated with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) award-winning corporate body.

“Through this long-term collaboration with Redtone, we hope to help groom new talents in squash, and ultimately cultivate a new generation of sporting champions, top achievers and beyond,” he said.

The tournament, sanctioned by the Asian Squash Federation (ASF), is the biggest event in Asia and second in the world after the US Junior Open.

Apart from debutant Russia, the other participating nations are Egypt, Qatar, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Iran, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, England, Pakistan, USA, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and host, Malaysia.

The players will compete in six categories in both boys and girls’ Under-9 to Under-19.

A total of 554 players will compete in the boys’ category and 306 in the girls’ category.

The tournament will be held at the Jalan Duta Squash Courts and National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.

— BERNAMA