With NZ having it’s strongest Squash team at the Commonwealth Games in recent memory, the sport is keen to capitalize on the profile it will gain from the Games on the Gold Coast. Come along and try it out, you will love it!! That’s the message from Squash as clubs around the country open their doors to promote the sport. And Bay of Plenty has a special reason to follow the games closely with Rotorua’s Amanda Landers-Murphy an integral part of the team.
Amanda is the two-time and current World Doubles Champion, and Gold Coast 2018 will be her second Commonwealth where she will compete in the Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles (with Joelle King) and Mixed Doubles (with Zac Millar). Joelle and Amanda are the top seeds in the women’s doubles and are confident of a medal. While the competition is very tough, the combination they have built up over the years certainly gives them an edge.
New Zealand is led by top-10 ranked Joelle King and Paul Coll. Both players are seeded second in their singles draws, and together in the Mixed Doubles they are top seeds. NZ could walk away with as many as five Squash medals, which is very exciting for the profile of the sport.
Until Olympic inclusion is granted, the Commonwealth Games is Squash’s pinnacle event for NZ, so the National Open Day is well timed. Clubs will open their doors and people of all ages and abilities are welcomed to come and see what the fuss is about. Squash is a fun, fast and exciting sport that is easy to learn and can be played all year-round - no matter your age, skill level or gender. Research has shown that playing an equivalent of 30 minutes of squash can burn 517 calories. Playing squash has also been proven to help you live longer. This means squash is the perfect sport to provide lifelong total well-being - no matter if you are five, thirty five or sixty five. Unlike many other sports, squash is gender neutral and gives equal opportunities for males and females to participate, enjoy and achieve. Squash is also one of the most widely played sports in the world - played in more than 185 countries by 20 million people on nearly 50,000 courts.
The National Squash Open Day for 2018 will be Saturday 7th April (The First Saturday of the Commonwealth Games and Quarter-Finals of Squash) from 11am to 1pm. In the Bay there will be five clubs open – Geyser City (Rotorua), Marist (Whakatane), Mount Maunganui, Katikati & Te Puke.
For more information contact one of the above clubs, call Squash BOP, or complete the signup form here