Latest news with #squash
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
World Junior Squash C'ships: Anahat Singh ends 15-year-long medal wait for India
New Cairo: Indian teen squash sensation Anahat Singh ended the country's 15-year wait for an individual medal at the World Junior Squash Championships with a bronze medal in the prestigious under-19 event. The 17-year-old, who was seeded second in the women's singles draw, suffered a loss to Egypt's Nadien Elhammamy 3-0 (11-6, 14-12, 12-10) in the semi-finals at the Black Ball Sporting Club, as per Earlier in the quarterfinals, Anahat beat Egypt's Malika Elkaraksy 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-5) to seal herself a bronze medal. "I had lost in the quarters for three years in a row, and I'm really glad I was able to reach the semi-finals this time," Anahat Singh said after her quarterfinal win as quoted by Anahat was the only Indian out of eight semifinalists. 54th in the world rankings and the reigning U19 Asian girls' champion, was the only seeded Indian in the women's draw. She had also secured the senior Asian titles in the women's and mixed doubles earlier this year and also made her World Championship debut in Chicago. She has also won plenty of PSA Challenger titles since her two-team bronze medals in the Asian Games Hangzhou back in 2022. Anahat is now the first Indian to win a medal at the World Junior Championships since Dipika Pallikal secured a bronze in 2010. However, no Indian has won a gold medal at the event, with Joshna Chinappa (silver in 2005), denied a gold medal 20 years ago. A total of 234 players are participating in the ongoing championships, which feature individual events until July 26 and team events until August 1.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Hooked on padel? This is the European holiday destination for you
'Our philosophy is friendship,' declares leading coach Labisa Palmera as he hands me a weird-looking solid racket with perforated holes for my first foray into padel. The sport, reportedly the biggest growing in the UK, and also expanding in key holiday resorts due to demand from travellers. While youngsters are picking up tennis rackets to play on public courts in the wake of the Wimbledon fortnight, more savvy sporting stars are planning to spend at least some of their summer break on the padel courts. Spain is king in this upcoming game, a cross between tennis and squash invented in Mexico, but nearby Portugal is also recognising padel's popularity. So I've come to Pine Cliffs Luxury Collection Resort, an immense 72-hectare cliffside family-friendly enclave in the Algarve, awash with Moorish touches and Portuguese tiles and an architectural gem of an inner courtyard in the main hotel. It offers everything from the prestigious Annabel Croft Tennis & Padel Academy, to a nine-hole golf course, state-of-the-art gym, award-winning spa, yoga, Pilates and, more importantly, a recently expanded padel facility. This year, due to demand, one of the tennis courts has been adapted into three padel courts to bring its total to four, complete with glass back wall and metal fencing enclosures, perfect for trying this sport out with my Gen-Z daughter, Grace, to see how inter-generational it is. Palmera, co-founder of the first padel club in Albufeira, recalls: 'It's been a huge phenomenon in Spain and 12 years ago it went crazy in Lisbon. Now, so many people, aged eight to 80, are playing padel and you don't need many lessons.' Not only is it good exercise, but padel is known for its sociability, given that so many generations play together. Ideal, then, for a family holiday. Reported to be the fastest-growing racket sport in the world with more than 25 million active players in 110 countries, the Lawn Tennis Association recently revealed that participation on home turf more than trebled last year, with more than 400,000 players in Great Britain alone. Former Wimbledon champion Andre Agassi was seen last year playing padel with David Beckham, while sporting superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and singer Shakira have all reportedly caught the bug. The premise is simple – you only play doubles, it is scored like tennis, you serve underarm and receivers can return the ball either as they would in tennis or off the wall after it has bounced. 'The thing is about padel is that it's great for the whole family,' says Palmera. 'People need fewer lessons than tennis to know how to play. At the end of an hour they have learned how to play doubles. 'We have found that 40-55-year-olds who have done no sport in life found that they could do padel. The difference is that it's a really sociable game, not too competitive, easy to learn and the whole family can do it,' he enthuses. Well, he might not think it's competitive, but that rather depends who you play. Yes, a family game can be just a bit of fun but we also see more experienced players who are slamming that ball as if their life depended on it. There are weekly tournaments and the academy can pair up solo players with others of similar abilities and organise fun clinics for all levels. Certainly, padel requires less court coverage than tennis, being a third of the size of a tennis court, and beginners can quickly pick up the techniques – the all-important lob, the volley, the 'chiquita' (placing the ball at the opponent's feet) and the position and timing needed to hit a ball off the glass wall. I hadn't played tennis or squash for years and by a certain age I felt I was done with these high-intensity sports, so I'd taken up pickleball, an easier padel relative, with a group of like-minded mid-lifers. But I was keen to enter a new multi-generational pastime which might engage my grown-up children. On a holiday where I didn't want to spend my time pounding the treadmill in a sweaty gym alongside my much fitter daughter and wanted to enjoy exercise on holiday without it feeling arduous, padel seemed a good choice. Playing as partners, Grace was told she had a great volley. I, as the more experienced racket-sport enthusiast, was informed my backhand was a killer. So far so good. On the second session, Palmera teamed us up with Irish sisters Isabella, 14, and Molly, 12, who he said were good at tennis and would make suitable opponents. Indeed, despite our age difference, the games went to deuce and we had a fun-filled match, as lobs were practised and volleys smashed. Finding a sport you love doesn't make exercise a chore on holiday, and the same goes for healthy eating, as we discovered in many of Pine Cliff's 15 restaurants, each of which has a unique setting which makes you feel you're in a different resort. We dine under the trees in a beautiful lemon grove, enjoy freshly-caught sea bream and other catches of the day looking out on to the Atlantic Ocean at the resort and feast on 'art on a plate' sushi and other Japanese delicacies at Yakuza, a restaurant in partnership with Olivier da Costa, one of Portugal's most recognised chefs. Tangy ginger breakfast shots devoid of alcohol, acai bowls and other delicious, nutritious fare with nuts, organic honey and lashings of fresh fruit will set you up for a day of sport, or leisure, even if you just want to lounge in the grassy area under the shade of the pine trees – there are between 4,000 and 5,000 around the resort – which provide a more natural and cooler alternative to huddling around the multiple swimming pools. We're here in peak season but the park-like green space makes the whole development seem roomier, less busy. I prefer to swim in the sea and a lift takes us down to a wooden walkway between the cliffs which leads to Falesia Beach, known for its long stretch of golden sand and the distinctive burnt orange cliffs that frame it, named the 'world's best beach' by Tripadvisor users in the 2024 Travellers' Choice Awards. Here, thrill-seekers can pound the waves on jet skis or try their hand at paddleboarding, while families have fun with bodyboards riding the surf of the refreshing Atlantic. We try other sports during the week – tennis with head coach Brunno Cappelletti Rocha, whose patience with us is admirable; golf, where we hit (and miss) a few balls on the driving range, and yoga of the gentler kind, thanks to our teacher, stretching my many unused muscles. It can be done in a studio or on the beach. A sports massage at the sumptuous Serenity – The Art of Well Being spa, housing 13 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy pool, various sauna and steam rooms and other wellbeing delights, irons out my aching limbs and prepares me for the next sporting challenge. But for me padel is the star. Back in the UK, we're looking for a court nearby where we can practise our volleys, perfect our timing when the ball bounces off the glass wall, and nail that chiquita. Travel facts Two adults can stay in Pine Cliffs Hotel Deluxe Room with Resort View from £326 per night (based on September 2025 stay). Adult tennis or padel weekly coaching courses at Pine Cliffs start from £300 in off-peak season (Nov-March) and £326 in peak season (April-Oct). Junior tennis and padel camps start from £265 off-peak season and £291 peak season. For more information and to book, visit or call +351 289 500 100. Serenity – The Art of Wellbeing spa also offers a range of treatments and wellness offerings.
The Herald
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Double delight for SACD at Growthpoint squash interprovincial
The Capital Fruit SA Country Districts teams ruled again at the country ' s premier team competition when the men ' s and women ' s sides were crowned champions on the final day of the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial squash tournament in Gqeberha on Friday. In a closing showdown with their Northerns rivals, the SACD teams were well-tested, but eventually the depth and talent of their squads came through to help them take the top spot on the podium. The annual week produced another display of squash which was full of passion and skill, with Northerns showing courage to stay in the running until the Friday finale, ultimately just not managing to cross the finish line first. The SACD A men ' s team won their fifth title in a row and seventh overall as victories by Rudi van Niekerk, his younger brother Dewald and Jonty Matthys sealed the deal. There was a slight blip on the journey when Northerns No 5 Nikhil Pather dug in against Matthys after losing the first two games. He won the third 11-3 to give his team a glimmer of hope, but Matthys pressed the reset button and got back on top in the fourth to take it 11-7. In the women ' s Kaplan Cup, SACD A regained the title they last held in 2023 after Western Province took the honours a year ago. This was SACD ' s sixth title overall, having previously won it from 2019 to 2023. Their decider was closer than the final margin indicated and Northerns were full of fight as they attempted to hold off the formidable SACD outfit. Though they sealed the victory by winning the first three matches in straight games, SACD had to work hard for their success. More than half the games of the first three matches were decided by margins of three points or less, but on each occasion the SACD players managed to come through in the crucial stages. This was epitomised in the match between the No 1s, Alexa Pienaar for SACD and Helena Hudson. While Pienaar won 3-0, the scoreline of 12-10 12-10 11-8 reveals just how closely contested the match was. Up 2-0 in matches, SACD No 5 Alouise Campher sealed the deal in a tight battle with Elzandri Janse van Rensburg. The first two games were decided by margins of 11-9, but Campher finally got away in the third to win it 11-4 to clinch the title. In the final game, Northerns No 3 Lara Patrick delivered a big-hearted effort against Shelomi Truter, taking the match into a fifth game decider before the SACD player moved ahead to win 11-6. Final logs Women ' s Kaplan Cup: 1 Capital Fruit SACD A 93, 2 Northerns A 75, 3 EP A 68, 4 WP A 51, 5 Border A 39, 6 Joburg Squash A 2 Men's Jarvis Cup: 1 SACD A 97, 2 Northerns 70, Joburg Squash A 67, EP A 52, WP A 43, KZN A 16. The Herald
The Herald
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
SACD, Northerns in shootout for Growthpoint squash title
The Capital Fruit SA Country Districts and Northerns teams are heading for a straight shootout for squash glory when the 65th edition of the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial tournament draws to a conclusion in Gqeberha on Friday. After a week of high-octane action, the men's and women's teams from both provinces remained unbeaten following the penultimate round on Thursday despite a number of tough challenges from their rivals as the week again showcased the best SA squash has to offer. In the women's Kaplan Cup, Northerns A were given some anxious moments against hosts Eastern Province A, who had a real chance of registering a win before young Elzandri Janse van Rensburg produced a display of resilience against the skilful stroke play of Bianca Keeley. The Northerns player, down 2-1, was trailing in the fourth but refused to give up the fight and chased everything she could to snatch back the advantage by taking the game 14-12. It was not over because the deciding fifth game was equally well contested, but finally Janse van Rensburg edged it 11-9 for an important victory. Earlier, EP's Anlen Jarman, with years of experience under her belt, transformed a 2-1 deficit against Jordin Phillips into a 3-2 triumph, keeping her side in the hunt. However, with Northerns 2-1 up in matches, Kim McDonald was solid in a key clash at No 2, holding off EP's Jacqui Ryder for a 3-0 result, which gave Northerns the five points for a win. SACD A women were too strong for Joburg Squash A and will be up for Friday's challenge when they face Northerns as they try to wrest back the title they last won in Pretoria in 2023. The men's Jarvis Cup was marked by an intriguing encounter between two of SA squash's elder statesmen as JP Brits (SACD A) took on his old rival, Christo Potgieter, of Joburg Squash. Both players have seen many interprovincials come and go but this did not stop them from producing a show worthy of the occasion. Supreme exponents of the sport, Brits eventually prevailed in a significant 3-1 win which meant SACD remained unbeaten and on course to defend the title they have won six times when they clash with Northerns on Friday. In another thrilling match for the host province Eastern Province A, they managed to pip Western Province A 14-10. No 1 Gerard Mitchell was the toast of the EP team when, with the tie locked at 2-2 in matches, he hit back after dropping the first game against Devon Osborne to win 3-1 in a titanic tussle. The Herald
The Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Northerns shade EP in Growthpoint squash thriller
In a match which showcased the passion and competitiveness of the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial squash tournament, Northerns A came through a searching examination to squeeze past Eastern Province A in their men's fixture in Gqeberha on Wednesday. This classic Jarvis clash went down to the wire and it took all the energy and skill of Northerns No 1 Damian Groenewald to hold off a terrific effort by Gerard Mitchell after he had dropped the first game. One of the country's best players, Groenewald was relentless as he held his nerve to win 3-1 against a lively opponent, who left everything out on court as he tried to pull off what would have been a memorable victory. Instead, the Northerns man sealed the deal to secure a thrilling 16-9 victory, keeping them in the hunt for the Jarvis Cup title. With two days remaining, they have moved to 50 points, eight behind logleaders and four-time champions Cape Fruit SA Country Districts A, who continued to power their way through the draw, this time disposing of KwaZulu-Natal A without losing a game. Though Thursday's matches could alter things, it does seem to be boiling down to a showdown between SACD A and Northerns A in the final round on Friday. EP may feel disappointed at the final outcome, but they must receive accolades in abundance for pushing Northerns all the way. Excellent wins by Sips Mpini and Dean Venter meant there was not going to be an easy route to victory for Northerns as the No 1s took the court for the decider. But finally, in front of a packed crowd, Groenewald underlined his class to secure the win. In the women's Kaplan Cup, Northerns A and Cape Fruit SA Country Districts A remain locked in a battle for supremacy after decisive wins on Wednesday. As the country's prestigious team tournament moves into the business end, Northerns cruised past Joburg Squash 20-1 and the SACD outfit defeated defending champions Western Province A 17-3. With two days remaining, just four points separate the two sides, while hosts Eastern Province A, who lost to SACD on Tuesday, put themselves back in the picture with a hard-earned win over Border A. EP's 19 points from that encounter lifted them to 52 points overall, just one point behind SACD, while Northerns lead with 57 points. The key matches will take place in the last two rounds, with EP facing Northerns on Thursday and then Northerns and SACD clashing in the final showdown on Friday. The host province will round off their programme with a tricky encounter against WP. EP did not have it all their own way against their neighbours Border and could easily have gone down 2-0 after the first two matches. From staring defeat in the face against EP No 3 Janet Byrnes, young Kelly Emslie saved several match points to level the tie by winning the fourth game 12-10 and then swept through the fifth 11-5 for an impressive win. In the next match, Border No 4 Kate van Biljon led Anlen Jarman 2-1 before her experienced opponent showed tremendous resolve to hold on for a 3-2 result. That lifted EP spirits and the victory was completed by the skills of Bianca Keeley and Jacqui Ryder as they secured wins in straight games to give their team the major portion of the points on offer. The Herald
