Rising squash twins, the V's, set sights on becoming world beaters

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 V's, 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 bronze after losing the semi-finals to her younger sister.

Born in Taiping, Perak, the siblings previously were competing in junior circuits locally and international, before deciding to rub shoulders against more notable players when turned pro in May 2021.

"The Bangamata tournament was our first overseas senior professional circuit, with participation from different countries. I am very proud and delighted to have won the title.

"Our short-term plan is to break into top 100 in the world ranking by end of this year and long term goal is to become top 10 in the world," Vinikasheinie told Bernama, 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 arts, being versatile Indian classical dance and violinists.

"We are very determined and committed towards all the things we do. Though we have faced many obstacles in squash, we are 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 V's previously had 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 juniors events in the United States, last year.

The SMK Subang Utama students are also the youngest players in the Selangor Malaysian Games (Sukma) squad.

-- BERNAMA