World Championships berths up for grabs on the Gold Coast

A strong field of players from across the region have converged on the Gold Coast this week in an attempt to qualify for the 2024 WSF World Championships later this year.

The winners of the men’s and women’s draws at this week’s Oceania Qualifying Event will earn their way to Cairo in May, where they will join Jess Turnbull who has already secured her place via her world ranking.

In the men’s draw, Australia’s top-ranked player Joseph White (NT) comes into the event as the top seed and is one of 11 local players taking part. Amongst those joining White are his 2023 Men’s World Team Championship teammates Rhys Dowling (NT), Dylan Molinaro (VIC) and Nick Calvert (QLD).

Second seed Temwa Chileshe (NZL) won his only PSA Tour title at the City of Shepparton International last July, taking down 2022 Junior World Champion Rowan Damming (NED) in the final. Fellow Kiwis Elijah Thomas and Anthony Lepper are the men’s 3/4 seeds.

The women’s draw is headed by Alex Haydon (SA) who recently took out the Australian Open Premier Grade event, along with Sarah Cardwell (VIC) who got the better of Haydon in the opening round of the Australian Open PSA tournament.

Leading juniors Madison Lyon (QLD) and Ella Lash (NZL) will be looking to make an impact ahead of next week’s Australian Junior Open in Melbourne, while 2007 World Champion Rachel Grinham (QLD) enters as a 3/4 seed and will play Lash or 15-year-old Sarbani Maitra (QLD) in the quarter-finals.

“The World Championships are the pinnacle of the sport and the Oceania qualifying event presents a fantastic opportunity for two players to take their place in Egypt in August,” said Lachlan Johnston, Squash Australia High Performance Director.

“There’s a pretty big incentive awaiting the winners of this event and I’m sure it will lead to high quality squash over the coming days.”

Eleven Australians have won 22 World Championships since the tournament’s inception in 1976.

Click here for draws and results.