KUALA LUMPUR: Rising squash twins Vitrikashenie and Vinikasheinie Kulasegaran are setting their sights on becoming world beaters in the future, after taking up the sport since the age of 10.
Known as the Vs, the 16-year-old identical twins’ optimism rose after a successful campaign at the Bangamata International Professional Squash Championship in Bangladesh last week.
Vinikasheinie claimed the gold while Vitrikashenie took home the bronze after losing in the semi-finals to her younger sister.
Born in Taiping, Perak, the siblings were previously competing in local and international junior circuits, before deciding to rub shoulders with more notable players when they turned pro in May 2021.
“The Bangamata tournament was our first overseas senior professional circuit with participation from different countries. I’m very proud and delighted to have won the title.
“Our short-term plan is to break into the world’s top 100 by end of this year and our long-term goal is to be among the top 10,” Vinikasheinie said while adding that they will focus on both squash and studies equally.
Both the sisters are currently ranked 255th in the world with compatriots Chen Yu Ng and Angie Ooi.
Apart from blazing the squash court, the siblings are also talented in the arts, being versatile Indian classical dancers and violinists.
“We’re very determined and committed towards all the things we do. Though we have faced many obstacles in squash, we’re fortunate enough to be fully supported mentally and physically by our parents, coaches, relatives and friends through thick and thin, so we would like to thank them,” said Vitrikashenie.
According to their mother G. Nirmaladevi, the Vs previously finished 1-2 in the 2019 Dalian International Junior Open, China, top eight in the 2018 Asian Junior Championship 2018 and managed to reach the third round of a few junior events in the United States last year.
The SMK Subang Utama students are also the youngest players in the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma) squad. — Bernama
