KUALA LUMPUR – Former national squash star Low Wee Wern is embracing the challenge as the Philippines new squash head coach and vows to make a difference for the team.
Just two weeks after bidding farewell to her illustrious playing career, Wee Wern announced her transition into coaching, expressing her commitment to nurturing talent and fostering growth in the sport.
In an announcement via social media yesterday, Wee Wern unveiled her coaching destination with the Philippines.
Speaking to Scoop from Manila, the 33-year-old former world number five said she wished to instil positive changes and pave the way for a brighter future for the Philippines’ players by drawing from her extensive experience in the game.
“The Philippines is relatively new to squash, so my goal is to make a meaningful impact here.
“They have some decent players but have not had proper coaching in the past, so I want to use my years of experience in the game to make a difference and hopefully give them a better future,” she said when contacted.
Last year, the country had a new National Squash Centre built within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Metro Manila, showing the country’s commitment to the sport.
Taking charge of the nation’s top talents, supported by a team of three assistant coaches, Wee Wern aims to elevate the performance of the senior players while also scouting for emerging talents to train at the National Squash Centre.
“In the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, the men’s team shocked Malaysia to win a silver medal. It shows there is decent talent here but they do not have a grassroots programme.
“Before this, they could only train in private clubs when allowed.
“With the new national centre, I have the flexibility to decide on the training programme and timings,” said the Penangite.
Wee Wern, who came from a humble background, understands that the players under her tutelage want to be given a chance to succeed and that is one of the reasons why the job with the Philippines attracted her.
“Squash has been my pathway to success, and I aspire to offer the same chance to the players under my guidance.
“Let’s be honest, I don’t have the coaching experience to hold a head coach position but the Philippines saw something in me such that they are willing to take a chance.
“I’m someone who has not backed down from a challenge and I have been through a lot in my career. So I think this would be great for me.
“I trained in Penang my whole life and growing up in that set-up was the best example for me and I would like to replicate that here in the Philippines,” said the two-time Asian Games gold medallist, who has undergone four knee surgeries in her career.
Wee Wern’s coaching debut will see her leading the Philippines at the coming SEA Cup in Manila this June.
But her bigger goal is to get her players onto the Professional Squash Association World Tour and position the Philippines prominently on the world stage. – March 6, 2024