Oceania Junior Championships return this weekend in Sydney with over 150 players battling for titles
Published Wed 14 Dec 2022
2022 Australian Junior Championships U17 Boys winner Daniel Marsh is one of over 150 junior players who will be taking to the court at Sydney’s Thornleigh Squash & Fitness Centre this weekend, when the Oceania Junior Championships (OJC) are held from 17-19 December.
Presented by Squash Australia in conjunction with the Oceania Squash Federation, the event returns on the calendar after a three-year hiatus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s really awesome to be back after a few tough, restricted years,” Marsh said, echoing the sentiment of many young players who are looking forward to the opportunity to compete again on the international stage. “I can’t wait and I love that so many overseas players have entered the tournament,” he added.
Marsh knows the atmosphere of the OJC first-hand, having participated in the 2019 edition, when he played in the U15 category. He said he remembers that he was very excited at the idea of travelling to Auckland and his family was warmly welcomed at the Remuera Rackets Club.
“The atmosphere was electric and the people were fantastic,” Marsh said, adding that at the time he was thrilled at the prospect of playing squash overseas for the first time.
Like Marsh, many young squash talents see the OJC as an important stepping stone to prepare them for the next level of competition at events such as the World Junior Championships, the US Junior Open or the British Junior Open. An event like the OJC is vital in their development as it allows young athletes to face a variety of opponents and be challenged by players of greater ability, giving them the opportunity to learn and improve.
Now seeded at no.1 in the U17 boys division and coming off his success at the Australian Junior Championships earlier this year, Marsh is looking forward to measuring up with such tough competition.
“I have been training hard and enjoying my squash. I’m feeling great and can’t wait to see how I go against a very strong field. I am very lucky to receive the number 1 seeding, which could easily have gone to a handful of players.”
Marsh will try to follow in the footsteps of many young Australians who won Oceania Junior Championships titles since the inaugural edition, including the likes of Eric Marsh (U13 boys), Oscar Curtis (U15 boys), Sze Yu Lee (U17 girls) and Alex Haydon (U19 girls,) who took their age group titles in 2019.
“It will be a great tournament,” he said.
After the OJC, the newly upgraded Thornleigh Squash Centre will host the Junior Trans-Tasman Test Series between 20-21 December. Australia will take on New Zealand across the U15, U17 and U19 boys and girls categories, with Marsh also playing in the Test after being selected to the Australian team.
“I am very thankful for having been selected to represent Australia in the Trans-Tasman test series,” Marsh said. “Last time was a brilliant experience and there is nothing like being a part of a great team.
“I am looking forward to having some fun with my teammates and our opponents, plus I am optimistic about our prospects,” he concluded.
The 2022 Oceania Junior Championships will start at 8.30am on Saturday 17 December, with matches from Court #2 live streamed on Cluch TV and on World Squash TV, the new streaming platform of the World Squash Federation.
For more information and results, please visit https://www.squash.org.au/w/
