PH squash team unhurt after bus crash ahead of SEA Games event

The bus was on its way from the players’ hotel in Putrajaya to the National Squash Centre. Photo from The Star Twitter @staronline.

KUALA LUMPUR—The Philippines’ squash team is shaken but otherwise unhurt following a bus accident on Monday morning.

The Filipinos, as well as the Thai and Myanmar squash teams, were on their way to the National Squash Centre from their hotel in Putrajaya when their buses collided.

None of the Filipino players – seven of them in total – suffered any major injuries.

The Thais also escaped unhurt but a couple of Myanmar players were sent to the National Sports Institute (NSI) for treatment.

“What happened was just unfortunate. It was an accident after all,” said Filipino team manager Abad Santos.

“There were two buses. We were in the first bus together with the Thailand team while Myanmar was in the bus behind us.

“We also had a police escort and everything seemed fine until the second bus hit us strongly from behind.

“Some of the Myanmar players had some slight injuries but my players are all fine and we’re still ready to play.”

Due to the accident, the morning matches of men and women’s doubles have been temporarily suspended. The mixed doubles competition was initially scheduled to start at 2pm.

“We’re putting the competition on hold until the players get medical clearance to play,” said SEA Games squash technical officer K. Sivanesan.

“We’re rescheduling and we expect things to be up and running after lunch.”

Squash offers nine gold medals at the Games and is played at the National Squash Centre and the Raintree Club in KL.