Squash centre to host huge tourney

FOR the first time since 2019, top squash talent from around the world will compete at the Bendigo Squash Centre.

The Bendigo International Open Squash Championship is set to take place from Thursday, 30 June to Sunday, 3 July and features a men’s and women’s 16-person Professional Squash Association draw, and a local graded tournament.

President of Bendigo Squash Club, Jason Turk, said the tournament attracts some of the top competitors nationally and internationally.

“The best players from Australia and some from around the world are coming to play,” he said.

“The top two seeds in the men’s are both Aussies, Joseph White and Rhys Dowing. Rhys is quite excited because he’s just been selected to play in this year’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games a couple months after the Bendigo event.

“In the ladies’ event the number one seed is Sarah Cardwell, who’s one of the better women in Australia and there’s a sprinkling of Australia players and international.

“It’s great that people travel from all over the world and some from interstate to play in tournaments like this and it’s a great opportunity for us to show off our club.”

Bendigo was recently named as the host city for squash the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Mr Turk said it would be great to have a new centre for the event.

“The best thing out of the Commonwealth Games should be a new facility, but I’m not sure if we’re getting that our not,” he said.

The local centre has limited television coverage capability, and newer facilities are fitted with multiple cameras and video referring technology.

“Something that’s permanent and would last another 50 years is better than something they drop in and pull apart at the end,” Mr Turk said.

“The great thing about putting all this money into regional Victoria for the Commonwealth Games should be about building better infrastructure here.”