Youth and experience for Australia at 2024 World Team Championships

Eight players have been selected to represent Australia at this year’s World Team Championships.

The WSF Men’s and Women’s World Team Championships will be held concurrently for the first time in event history between December 9-15 when the Hong Kong Football Club hosts the historic tournament.

Australia has selected eight players for the tournament - three men and three women who have already have experience at the event, and player on debut in each draw.

On the men’s side are three players who took part in the 2023 Men’s World Team Championships in New Zealand - Joseph White, Rhys Dowling and Dylan Molinaro - along with national team debutant Brendan MacDonald.

As Australia’s top-ranked male player, White will lead the team during his first calendar year of never seeing his ranking slip out of the world’s top 100. His experience at the top level will be helpful for MacDonald who pulls on the green and gold having climbed more than 550 world rankings positions in the past two years.

“Representing Australia at the senior level has always been a lifelong goal of mine, so to finally tick that off the list is a great feeling,” said the 20-year-old. “Having the support and backing of everyone at the Daisy Hill Squash Club and the environment that we've created has helped me so much and I'm so grateful for that.

“Also my university has assisted me in many ways to ensure that I am able to travel and train regularly, while still being able to complete my degree. So I'm just incredibly grateful for the people and opportunities that have helped make things easier for me.”

MacDonald is using the benefits of being an AIS-QUT scholarship-holder to keep his game moving forward and now gets to play alongside the best athletes in the game.

“I think this will be a great opportunity for me to get more international exposure, so I'm really looking forward to battling with the world's best,” he said. “I haven't played many PSA tournaments overseas as of yet in my career, so the chance to get to play new people will be great.

“It'll be great to showcase what I have on such a big stage and gain insights from others on how I can improve.

The women’s team also sees three players back from the 2022 Women’s World Team Championship campaign in Egypt - Jess Turnbull, Alex Haydon and Sarah Cardwell - with Madison Lyon selected for her first senior team. 

Cardwell is the most experienced campaigner in the Australian squad, returning for her fifth World Teams Championship having first taken part in the tournament in 2012 in the team which finished fourth.

While Lyon is a veteran of multiple World Junior Championships teams and Junior Trans Tasman campaigns, making the step into the senior ranks at an international level is something she has had a clear eye on throughout 2024.

“Selection was definitely a major goal of mine for the year, and it’s been a huge motivator throughout my training and matches,” said Lyon. “I’m very excited to compete against the best women in the world.

“I think it’s a great chance to learn, grow and push myself. I’m definitely up for the challenge!”

Lyon has leant on the experience of the more established tour players as she grows into the senior ranks and is looking forward to forming a formidable quartet with her teammates in Hong Kong.

“Jess and Sarah in particular have really been my rocks throughout my time on tour, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their unwavering support as friends and soon to be teammates,” said Lyon. 

While pools have not yet ben drawn for the event, Egypt head to Hong Kong as defending champions in both events. Their women's team downed USA 2-0 in a gripping final at home in 2022 while the men's team defeating England last year in a tense tie in New Zealand.

Action from the World Squash Team Championships will be streamed live and free on WORLDSQUASH.TV .