WJC Profile | Kasper Cheung
Published Wed 19 Jun 2024
Kasper Cheung will head to Houston for his first World Junior Championships with a huge future in front of him.
Like other leading juniors who have gone before him, at age 15 Kasper has many more opportunities to compete in the tournament but is looking to make every post a winner given the opportunity selection has granted him.
“It means so much to me to represent Australia in the World Junior Championships as a 15-year-old,” said Kasper. “I’ve worked hard prior to the Australian Junior Open 2024 and played in the Under 19s in order to qualify for selection.
“It’s good to see the work paying off.
“My main goals from now to Worlds is to just train as hard as I can and just really enjoy it.
“I’m very grateful that I’ll have a couple of cracks at Worlds, so I think enjoying the experience and giving it my all is the most important.”
Kasper is no stranger to playing internationally, having already competed aboard including tournaments in Hong Kong and the UK, while he was a member of Australia’s Trans Tasman teams in 2022 and earlier this year when he played as an Under 17.
He also has the benefit of training under ex-pro Rohan Toole at Thornleigh Squash Centre in Sydney’s north. The Centre will host the Australian Junior Championships later this year and is also home to Australia Junior Open champion and fellow WJC teammate Thomas Scott.
Having first picked up a squash racquet around 10 years ago, it is now his number one sporting pursuit and his selection on the Australian team is testament to his commitment an performances.
“I first got in to squash as a fun school sport in primary school,” said Kasper. “Had heaps of fun then fell in love with the sport, then started taking it more seriously.
“I don’t play any other sport. I committed to squash as my main sport about seven years ago.”
Listing his favourite player as 2016 World Champion and former World #1 Karin Abdel Gawad, Kasper hopes he can emulate the Egyptian’s effortless courtcraft in Houston.
“The way he can move the ball around the court is just incredible to watch,” said Kasper.
