Success in every swing, from sun-averse to squash star

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By Marlynda Meraw

On the quiet outskirts of Miri, a young boy found himself drawn to a squash court. His reason was simply to escape the sun’s unrelenting heat. At the time, Harith Danial Jefri did not know it would mark the start of a journey that would take him far beyond the sleepy town of Lutong to become one of Malaysia’s rising stars in squash.

Decisions shaped by circumstance

Harith attended primary school at SK Jalan Bintang where he had to choose a sport as an extracurricular activity. With most of the options being outdoor sports, young Harith, who disliked the sun’s heat, was drawn to squash—the only indoor option available.

His school teachers saw potential in Harith. While Harith’s first brush with squash might have been happenstance, yet, a seed was planted. Harith began his journey in the sport at the age of nine, and by the age 10, he was already competing in his first tournament outside Sarawak.

His first tournament

The Commercial International Merchant Bankers (CIMB) Foundation interstate tournament in Kuala Lumpur marked Harith’s first outing in a bigger, more competitive arena than any in Sarawak. Unseeded, unknown and accompanied by his mother, he had little expectation over the outcome, and yet, despite being an underdog with no national ranking, Harith fought his way into the top four. It was more than a success—it was a revelation, a moment that hinted of much greater possibilities.

His mother was his steady anchor, offering comfort and encouragement for many years, as she accompanied him to competitions. When he was 13, destiny came calling in the form of the opportunity to train at Bukit Jalil Sports School. It was a world far away from his mother’s gentle embrace and Lutong’s sleepy lanes and familiar faces.

But at age of 14, Harith accepted the call with a heart as much fearful as it was fierce. His mother who had always been by his side, stepped back, and he had to learn to let go and stand on his own.

KL seemed vast and intimidating to the young lad who was more used to the slow pace of life back in Lutong. The ache of missing home clung to him like a shadow. Yet, slowly, soothed by the laughter and companionship of newfound friends, he adapted to the intense training and new way of life.

Success watered by sacrifice

As the years passed, Harith’s game grew. Soon, he found himself donning the colours of the national team, his name mentioned among the ranks of the promising and the elite. His dedication bore fruit across an ocean, under a blazing Texan sun different from the warmth of home—at the World Junior Squash Championship in Houston in July 2024, where he claimed a bronze medal.

Yet, the victory was marked by sacrifice. There were no familiar faces in the stands, no sound of family members’ voices to cheer his triumph, no comfort to soothe the ache of homesickness.

But at Malaysia Games (Sukma) XXI Sarawak 2024 that Harith felt a joy unlike any he had known before under the bright squash court lights. His father would witness his son seize not one, but two gold medals—in mixed doubles and men’s doubles—and a silver medal in team doubles.

“It was the first time he (father) saw me win something this big in person,” Harith recounted. His father’s voice brimming with pride, was like a balm to his soul: “You deserve this.” Hearing those words, Harith felt tears welling, not just because of the victories, but because of his father’s recognition and quiet affirmation of all the sacrifices made, all the hard work poured into every drop of sweat and every whispered prayer.

Between courts and classrooms

Harith has dreams which extend beyond the squash court. He is keen to further his studies in the United Kingdom (UK), with plans to do a foundation year and later a degree. But he is not ready to close the chapter on squash just yet.

The future holds endless possibilities. He expressed curiosity and a desire to explore the elegance of new forms, to feel the thrill of leaping into the unknown, and to find joy in the pursuit, wherever it might lead.

But for now, squash remains his first love, his chosen path. It is the court where he has learned to rise, to fall, to push beyond his limits. For Harith, the game is far from over—it has only just begun. — DayakDaily

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