WJC Profile | James Slade

It is not unusual for siblings to be on representative teams together in junior sport and squash is no different.

Last year Erin and Dylan Classen represented Australia at home at the 2023 World Junior Championships. They were teammates with Ken Lamb whose sister Emmy is on this year’s team.

Also named in the 2024 Australian team are James and William Slade who aren’t just siblings - they’re twins.

While the pair have grown up slogging it out against each other throughout their youth, the fact is not lost on James that pulling the green and gold on alongside his twin is a unique experience.

“It’s literally a rare once in a lifetime experience to have you and your own brother in the same team representing Australia,” said James. “It will make me have so much honour and pride to my family that both of us are experiencing this wonderful journey together.

“It's a memory my brother and I will not forget.

“It will be a massive honour to represent my country at the World Junior Championships.

“Not many people can say they represent their own country at such a high level. It will allow me meet new people I would never have thought I would meet!”

James has opened this season with round of 16 appearances in the U19s at both the Australian Junior Open and the Oceania Junior Championships.

Being selected to the Australian team is a standout moment for the teenager who first picked up a racquet aged 10 when his rather introduced the twins to the sport.

“When he was younger, he played squash himself at a social level,” said James. “We played so many sports such as soccer and tennis growing up prior to squash we didn't enjoy it as much, so my dad decided to introduce us into squash!

“Since then, I have been playing squash for almost eight years and loved every bit of it.”

Playing under coach Aaron Frankcomb at Elanora Squash Club, James names the Devoy Squash Club in Tauranga as his favourite venue having competed there last December in the Oceania Junior Championships.

Having missed most of 2023 with injury, it was one of this first tournaments back and a catalyst to the form which has seen him selected for Houston.

While he claims not have a favourite player he looks up to, James is a big admirer of top 10 player Karim Abdel Gawad “because he has such smooth, causal technique and crazy shots. I wish I could have his calmness on court like he does when he plays.”