Chasing Points and Dreams

Kaelen first picked up a squash racket when he was in kindergarten. What started as a fun activity soon became something much bigger. However, his journey was anything but smooth.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced him to stop playing during Primary 1. Just as he resumed training in Primary 3, another setback struck when he suffered a serious fall that left him with a completely broken wrist. The injury meant another five months away from the sport he loved.

Many young athletes might have lost interest after such interruptions. Kaelen did the opposite. "When I could finally play again, I just wanted to get back on court," he recalls. His determination only grew stronger with every challenge.

Kaelen attended Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), where squash was not offered as a co-curricular activity. Instead, he pursued the sport outside school, training whenever he could. Everything changed when COVID restrictions eased and his mother signed him up for his first official tournament at the end of Primary 3.

"I lost badly," he shared. "But I really enjoyed the adrenaline rush I got from competing." That taste of competition sparked something within him.

The defining moment came during the 2023 Under-11 National Championships. Before his semi-final match, his mother made him a promise: if he reached the final, she would take him to compete in the Korea Junior Open.

Motivated by that goal, Kaelen battled through a gruelling five-set match to secure his place in the final. "The exhilaration I felt after winning was unlike anything else. After that rush, I was hooked," he shared.

His commitment immediately intensified. From training three times a week, he increased the number of training sessions to five sessions weekly—and even that wasn't enough. "I was waking my mum up at 7am on weekends just so we could play squash together."

Today, Kaelen's schedule reflects the dedication required of an athlete on the high performance pathway.

He trains on court five to six times each week, with each session lasting around two hours. On top of that, he completes two gym or running sessions weekly to build his strength and endurance. Beyond the physical work, he also believes in preparing mentally.

Before important matches, Kaelen practises visualisation techniques, mentally rehearsing his performance and preparing himself for the challenges ahead.

As the only squash student-athlete currently enrolled at Singapore Sports School, Kaelen knew he was taking a unique path.

After attending the school's Open House, he felt it was the ideal environment to pursue both his academic and sporting ambitions.

His decision has proven to be the right one.

"The teachers and mentors are always pushing me to do my best while making sure I can catch up with my schoolwork and manage training and competitions."

One of the biggest factors behind his recent improvement has been the flexibility provided by the school. In the lead-up to the Asian Junior Squash Championships, the school allowed him to attend additional morning training sessions three times a week, on top of his regular training schedule. Working closely with the National Sports Association and his coaches, those extra hours made a significant difference. "I feel that pushed my level up," he shared.

Behind every successful athlete is a strong support system, and Kaelen is quick to credit his family. His biggest inspiration at home is his mother, a former Singapore squash representative who first introduced him to the sport.

"She understands my needs and keeps me grounded. She's tough on me, but she's also my biggest cheerleader."

Together with his father, siblings and grandfather, Kaelen's family has been there through every victory, setback and milestone.

On court, he looks up to former World Champion Ramy Ashour for his creativity and flair, while drawing daily inspiration from his coaches, especially Coach Gurshan, who has helped elevate his game over the past few months.

Despite his growing list of achievements, Kaelen remains grounded and focused on what lies ahead.

His immediate goal is to win the Hong Kong Junior Open, while his long-term ambition is even bigger. He hopes to break into the top 300 in the PSA World Rankings before the age of 17, all while balancing his academic studies.

At just the beginning of his secondary school years, he has already shown that with determination, resilience and the support of those around him, every challenge can become the next stepping stone.