Sanjay Jeeva, a 27-year-old Malaysian squash player, is preparing to compete in his first Asian Games, which will take place in Aichi-Nagoya from September 23 to October 2. Fresh from completing a Masters in High Performance Sports at the University of Birmingham in July, Sanjay says the academic experience has provided him with new insights into the mental and physical preparation required for elite competition.
“The programme has helped me understand how to handle the lead-up to events, allowing me to identify my strengths and weaknesses more clearly,” he explained. This knowledge, he believes, will aid his performance before, during, and after matches.
At the Asian Games, Sanjay will participate in both the men’s singles and team events. He will be joined in singles by defending champion Ng Eain Yow, while Syafiq Kamal and C. Ameeshenraj will join the men’s team. Additionally, Syafiq and Ameeshenraj are set to compete in mixed doubles alongside Aifa Azman and Rachel Arnold, respectively.
Since returning to Malaysia two months ago after completing his studies in England, Sanjay has focused on training with the national team. He noted that while the team values his overseas training, they also appreciate his early return for team preparations. “They know I’m physically ready to compete in Japan,” he said.
Beyond representing Malaysia, the Asian Games carry additional significance as the tournament offers a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for the gold medallist. Acknowledging this rare opportunity, Sanjay said, “Just being selected is a huge honour. It only happens once every four years, and having it as an Olympic qualifier makes it even more special.” While not seeded to win, he remains focused and motivated.
In the men’s team event, Malaysia is seeded second, but Sanjay anticipates strong competition primarily from India and Pakistan. Noting possible changes in Pakistan's roster that could affect standings, he identified India's Veer Chotrani, ranked world No. 38, and Pakistan's Ashab Irfan, ranked world No. 48, as key opponents. Sanjay, currently ranked world No. 61, expects high pressure on the top seeds.
On the women’s side, Malaysia will be represented by world No. 5 and defending champion S. Sivasangari, alongside world No. 21 Aira Azman. Both bring high expectations into the tournament as Malaysia aims to secure podium finishes in multiple events.