Good signs for the future for Australia’s women’s team
Published Mon 16 Dec 2024
Australia’s women fought hard throughout the tournament to finish the 2024 World Team Championship in 11th place.
The result mirrors the performance from 2022, a tournament which also saw Jess van der Walt (nee Turnbull), Sarah Cardwell and Alex Haydon involved.
The tournament didn’t start off on the right note with Haydon unable to attend the opening ceremony due to food poisoning which also left her out of the first two ties of Group F.
The first clash saw Cardwell and debutant Madison Lyon score crucial wins to take down South Africa 2-1, however hosts Hong Kong were far too good in the second day one encounter.
The day two showdown with Finland would have a large bearing on where Australia progressed after the pool stage, however with van der Walt, Haydon and Cardwell dropping just one game between them, Australia took it’s place in the final 12.
India were too good for Australia in the first match of the next round with Cardwell the only player to secure a victory, marking her third win from as many matches.
This put Australia in the 9th-12th playoffs and a semi-final against Japan. While Haydon was victorious in her clash, Japan were able to secure the 2-1 result and relegate Australia to the 11th place playoff against Scotland.
Looking to match their result from 2022, Australia’s top two players split the opening matches, leaving the tie on the racquet of Lyon.
The 19-year-old dropped the opening game against Robyn McAlpine but was able to even the matchup with a 12-10 result in the second. The evenly-poised contest was an enthralling encounter, with Lyon eventually winning in four games.
The result was uplifting given Scotland were quarter-finalists two years ago with Lyon’s performance providing plenty of hope for the future.
“This team was definitely a blend of youth and experience and generally in the big moments you hope that experience will see you through,” said Lachlan Johnston, Squash Australia High Performance Director. “For the weight of the team to fall on Maddy’s shoulders in the last match of a long week is a heavy load to carry for someone who was still representing Australia in junior competition earlier this year.
“That performance will hold her in good stead for future occasions when playing for Australia and in big matches on the PSA Tour. Maddy is going to play a key role for Australia in team events for many years to come and it's been so impressive to see how well she has risen to the occasion this week in her senior debut.
“These tournaments are extremely difficult to navigate but are ultimately a great test and while there’s plenty of lessons to be learned. Jess, Alex, Sarah and Maddy all fought really hard all week.”
2024 WSF WOMEN’S WORLD TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP
Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong CHN
9-15 December 2024
Group F
Australia d South Africa 2-1
Hong Kong d Australia 3-0
Australia d Finland 3-0
1st-12th Draw
India d Australia 2-1
9th-12th Semi-Final
Japan d Australia 2-1
11th Place Playoff
Australia d Scotland 2-1
