By reader Enoh

Kallang Squash Centre, Monday, April 18, 2011 — For the past four years, only the name of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) has been inscribed on the National C Division Boys’ Squash Championship trophy. This year a new era began with Fairfield Methodist Secondary School (FMSS) beating Raffles Institution (RI) 3-2 for the C Division title.

FMSS have been a rising force in the recent couple of years, but have always fallen short at the last hurdle due to the superiority of the ACSI team. But that changed with a very strong FMSS C Division team helmed by Kojiro Tan (current Boys’ National Under-13 champion), Brandon Tan and Goh Jia Wen. They are now viewed as favourites for the C Division title this year, and all the competitions in the subsequent years.

In this year’s competition, FMSS won all their preliminary group matches with reasonable ease. RI, on the other hand, barely made the final after edging out ACS(I) with a marginally better match difference aggregate. Both RI and ACSI registered 10 points each during the group-stage. ACS(I) beat RI 4-1 in a group match, but dropping a match against St Andrew’s Secondary 4-1 proved to be ACS(I)’s undoing, as RI thrashed SAS 5-0 to grab the second spot and qualify for the final.

RI, beaten 3-2 by FMSS in the group stage, were hoping for a more favourable outcome in the final with the huge support of their schoolmates. From the onset, both teams, backed by vociferous cheers from their respective supporters, played with great passion and tenacity. Emotions and tension ran high as both teams were evenly-matched.

The first four ties were evenly split between the two teams, which set up an exciting finish to the competition. However, it proved to be an anti-climax as FMSS’ Goh Jia Wen was too strong and experienced for his spirited RI opponent. Jia Wen easily won the fifth and deciding tie 3-0 to become his team’s hero and in the process, bring home the C Division squash title to FMSS for the first time in their history.

Already decided is the Girls’ C Division title. Raffles Girls’ School, anchored by national junior trainees Michelle Tay and Chong Yin Jean, comfortably beat Singapore Chinese Girls’ School 4-1 in the final to be crowned champions for the first time in at least six years.

While the C Division is seeing the rise of new powerhouses in the sport, the Boys’ B Division is expected to be a breeze for the defending champion, ACS(I), this year. With a team comprising of Darren Subramaniam (former Malaysia top Under-17 player), Pang Ka Hoe (current Boys’ Under 19 winner), Pang Ka Wai (current Boys’ U17 runner-up) and Benedict Chan (current fifth-ranked Boys’ Under-17 player), ACS(I) might just possess too much firepower for its gallant opponent, FMSS.

Ka Hoe, Benedict and Jeremy Goh (current Under-15 winner) are just Year Three students and they will be around to compete again in next year’s B Division.