TURNING 20 is a big deal for national squash player Lai Wen Li.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sabah-born had a small birthday celebration with her family at home on Thursday.
Nevertheless, the World No 75 is feeling positive and believes she is now wiser, after turning 20, in tackling the challenges in her career.
Wen Li is eagerly looking forward to her next step — training under former World No 1 and two-time world champion David Palmer at the Cornell University in the United States.
Her trip to the US in August has been indefinitely postponed due to the Covid-19 situation.
"I am quite happy to turn 20 because it feels like I am entering a new generation of an age where I need to be independent and responsible," said Wen Li.
"It was a quiet birthday celebration this time. However, I felt good as I celebrated it with my family at home.
"My goal is to improve my ranking on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour when it restarts. However, I also hope to do well in my education.
"I am excited at the prospect of training under Palmer as it is a step up for my career."
An added boost for Wen Li is that she will be reunited with her friend and national No 2 S. Sivasangari at Cornell.
World No 39 Sivasangari left for Cornell a year ago, and she has done well under Palmer, both in the university league and on the PSA Tour.
Meanwhile, Wen Li, whose best achievement on the PSA Tour was winning the New Zealand International Classic last June, admitted she is feeling restless with no training for two months due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Even though Malaysia is now in an exit phase with the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), only a handful of athletes, namely those under the Road to Tokyo programme, have been given the green light to resume training next month.
"There is nothing much we can do about it.
"I keep myself motivated and busy by working out and attending online classes."