Cape Town, Western Cape: South Africa’s squad of junior squash players learnt some invaluable lessons as they came up against tough opposition in the World Junior Championships in France recently.
A team of four boys and five girls faced the best in the world, with Savannah Ingledew, of Midlands, and Damian Groenewald, of Northerns, faring the best. Ingledew ended 25th overall, while Groenewald reached the final of the boys’ special plate event, going down in five games.
Although there is naturally room for improvement, Cara Fourie, who co-managed the squad with Rodney Durbach, said the exposure they received was essential for the development of the players.
“We fully appreciated the value of the exposure received at this tournament,” she said.
“The importance of competing at a high level and being able to formulate gameplans, and the experience to change and adapt your game and style of play to what is needed to defeat your opponent came through strongly.
“Our players could benefit from more sports specific conditioning and fitness to play and maintain a higher level of intensity.
“I feel they would also benefit from the additional knowledge you can get through a sports psychologist, nutritionists, and physios.
“I noticed that the strength of the players made a huge impact on the match intensity and the body strength and movement of many international players was definitely admirable.”
She added that it was critical that SA juniors kept experiencing the level of play these international tournaments provided.
“It can be difficult for our players because many of the European countries, for example, are able to provide national training camps as their distances and transport systems are so good.
“They can train with international players at major training facilities and have access to all the additional resources.
“The major challenge for our players is inexperience. The Egyptians grow up watching their idols playing in the same sports complex as they are playing, and they play with them. Our players unfortunately do not have quite the same opportunity.”
Nonetheless, Fourie was impressed with the SA players’ attitudes as they kept the national flag flying high.
“Growthpoint U17 national champion Savannah Ingledew had an outstanding tournament,” she said. “She conducted herself in a very professional manner, including her warm-ups, cool-downs, stretching routines, as well as nutrition.
“All the girls showed true grit and determination – there were some good wins and some unfortunate losses.
“I was very proud of their attitudes and behaviour on the court and the respect shown to their opponents and the umpires – they were a credit to South Africa.”
Fourie felt that an investment in the players’ futures through national camps and training programmes should be an option to consider.
“National training camps and creating programmes that can be tracked would help to develop the juniors,” she said.
“If we are investing the time and money into the players, they need to take accountability, complete the programmes, and follow the advice provided by professionals.
“I would also recommend the tour to the British and Scottish Opens, which are trips we have done in the past and which provided a really good experience.”
The SA squad comprised Ingledew, Awande Malinga, Ashton Weir, Rachel Shannon, Nicola Bentley, Damian Groenewald, Seth Flisberg, Brett Maclachan and Luke Jacoby.
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FREE TO USE PICTURE
Caption
Savannah Ingledew (right), in action against Anel Marais in the 2021 Growthpoint U17 Nationals, emerged with credit when she competed in the World Junior Squash Championships in France in August.
Picture credits: Carl Fourie
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