Namibia junior squash players excel in SA
NAMPA
Lida-Marie Calitz of Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (WAP) won the under-19 women’s category of the Paarl Junior Squash Tournament held from 6 to 9 October in South Africa.
She was part of a group of four Namibians who took part in the tournament used to determine the South African junior rankings.
A media statement issued on Sunday by Henk Knipe, one of the parents who accompanied the children to South Africa, said Amo Diekmann of Windhoek International School came 11th in the boys’ under-16 category.
“The Namibian player gave a good account of himself and proved that the country''s squash players can compete at international level,” said Knipe.
Henko Knipe of Windhoek High School and Benneton Calitz, also of WAP, ended 17th and 21st in the U-16 age group. They won all their matches except one in the opening round, which put them automatically in the second division of the competition.
A total of 34 boys took part in the U-16 competition and the three Namibians “stood their ground against fierce competition and the intensity at which the games were played,” Knipe said.
He said they accompanied the children to South Africa using their own resources.
“Squash is a fairly small sport in Namibia but there are many people who play it. Most of them, if not all, use their own resources, hence my call to the corporate world to consider investing in this beautiful sport,” he said.
In terms of lessons learnt, Henk said Namibia can compete but players still have a lot to learn.
“We need to get new, younger players into the sport and the more competitions we hold locally the more we grow the sport. That is what they do in South Africa,” he said.
Lida-Marie Calitz of Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (WAP) won the under-19 women’s category of the Paarl Junior Squash Tournament held from 6 to 9 October in South Africa.
She was part of a group of four Namibians who took part in the tournament used to determine the South African junior rankings.
A media statement issued on Sunday by Henk Knipe, one of the parents who accompanied the children to South Africa, said Amo Diekmann of Windhoek International School came 11th in the boys’ under-16 category.
“The Namibian player gave a good account of himself and proved that the country''s squash players can compete at international level,” said Knipe.
Henko Knipe of Windhoek High School and Benneton Calitz, also of WAP, ended 17th and 21st in the U-16 age group. They won all their matches except one in the opening round, which put them automatically in the second division of the competition.
A total of 34 boys took part in the U-16 competition and the three Namibians “stood their ground against fierce competition and the intensity at which the games were played,” Knipe said.
He said they accompanied the children to South Africa using their own resources.
“Squash is a fairly small sport in Namibia but there are many people who play it. Most of them, if not all, use their own resources, hence my call to the corporate world to consider investing in this beautiful sport,” he said.
In terms of lessons learnt, Henk said Namibia can compete but players still have a lot to learn.
“We need to get new, younger players into the sport and the more competitions we hold locally the more we grow the sport. That is what they do in South Africa,” he said.
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