Two Myanmar squash players have withdrawn from the SEA Games after suffering minor injuries in a bus accident in Malaysia this morning.
Women’s doubles players Aye Aye Thin and Ei Ei Pyone were traveling by bus with their teammates from their hotel in Putrajaya to the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil. During the journey, their bus rear-ended another bus, this one carrying the Philippine and Thai squash teams.
“There were two buses. We were in the first bus together with the Thailand team, while Myanmar was in the bus behind us,” the Philippines’ team manager Abad Santos told the Straits Times.
A police spokesman said the collision occurred when the driver of the bus carrying the Philippine and Thai teams braked suddenly to avoid hitting a motorcycle. The driver of the Myanmar team’s bus failed to brake in time and hit the other bus. He is now under investigation for reckless and dangerous driving.
“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,” he added.
Seven Myanmar athletes were taken to the National Sports Institute for assessment, and Aye Aye Thin and Ei Ei Pyone were diagnosed with whiplash.
Datuk Low Beng Choo, the secretary general of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, announced that the women’s injuries are not serious, but they are not well enough to play.
“We are grateful there were no serious injuries, although the team manager of Myanmar has asked for a psychologist to speak to their players due to the traumatic nature of the incident,” the secretary general told the New Straits Times.
“What happened was just unfortunate. It was an accident after all,” said the team manager from the Philippines.
Today’s squash events were put on hold until all the players received medical clearance to play. They are expected to be held later today. Tomorrow’s events will be delayed by an hour.
A total of nine gold medals are awarded for squash at the SEA Games.
