Windhoek braces for high-intensity action at PSA BDO Namibian Open
Squash
Starting today, Windhoek is gearing up for another full week of world-class squash as the BDO Namibian Open returns to the courts at Wanderers Squash Club.
The first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) are dedicated to the PSA Squash Tour men’s event, endorsed by the Professional Squash Association, where a total of 15 000 US dollars in prize money will be up for grabs.
From Thursday until the big finals on Saturday, the BDO Namibian Open will once again deliver spectacular duels in the women’s (A and B) and men’s (A to D) divisions.
With a total of 249 matches featuring 130 players representing 14 countries, this week will live up to its billing as the biggest annual squash event on Namibian soil.
Star-studded women’s draw
Alexa Commins, who won the South African national championship this year and has reached an impressive highest world ranking position of 21st, will be the top ranked women’s player.
Last month Commins also won the Western Province title for the 11th time in 15 years.
Her 24-year-old compatriot Shelomi Truter will be the second seed, followed by Dené van Zyl who grew up in Windhoek and recently successfully defended her title as South African U19 champion.
The women’s number 4 will be Carla Nortje from Wanderers; Charne Fourie from Swakopmund (Namibia’s number one) is ranked number five, followed by the country’s former number one Lida-Marie Calitz who returns to action for this tournament.
Zanti Hansen (7th) and Adri Lambert (8th) are also among the leading contenders.
World-class men’s competition
A deep draw of 32 players in the A Division speaks to the level of men’s competition expected.
The Netherlands’ ambitious Sam Gerrits will be the number one ranked men’s player for the BDO Namibian Open A Division.
“I’m driven by the belief that nothing is impossible for those who are willing. For me, that means chasing the dream of playing at the Olympics.
“I fell in love with squash while watching my father play from my maxi-cosi, dreaming of one day competing on the world’s biggest stages. Since squash became an Olympic sport for Los Angeles 2028, I’ve paused my studies to fully focus on this dream,” Gerrits states on his website.
John Anderson of South Africa is ranked second ahead of Germany’s 19-year-old Finn Koch, who has been playing on the PSA Tour since 2022.
Blessing Muhwati of Zimbabwe (nr 4) reached the quarter-finals in Windhoek last year after beating John Anderson 3-0. South Africa’s Dean Venter is ranked number 5, one ahead of Egypt’s Aly Tolba.
Reigning Western Province champion Mighael Lombard enters the tournament as the seventh seed.
Nigeria’s Oladipupo Ayomide lost last year’s Men’s A Open final and returns to be seeded eighth.
From number 9 to 16 are Jimmy van Niekerk (Eastern Cape, RSA); Le-Hugo van Rooyen (Namibia’s number two); Luke van Vuuren (RSA); Arno Diekmann (Namibia’s number one); Manda Chilambwe (Zambia); Nikhil Pather (Pretoria, RSA); Faruq Sulaimon (Nigeria) and Brandon Grane (Namibia).
Since 2024
Last year’s edition delivered packed crowds, tight matches and standout performances from rising stars and seasoned campaigners.
Mohamed Nasser of Egypt won the 2024 PSA BDO Namibian Open, delivering a dominant and near-flawless display in the final to beat Dewald van Niekerk of South Africa (11-2, 11-5, 11-2) – even overcoming a bout of food poisoning during the competition week.
The 2024 women’s draw was smaller, but delivered a competitive final in which Polite Mbare from Zimbabwe beat her compatriot Natasha Gwidzima in the final.
Namibia’s Carla Nortje (third) finished the best of the local entries, but had to fight back in the five-set bronze final to beat Adri Lambert.
For Namibian players, the Open remains a crucial stage — an opportunity to test themselves against visiting professionals, gain experience under pressure, and measure their progress against top talent from abroad.
Local supporters will be eager to see whether home-grown contenders can ride the energy of familiar courts and passionate spectators to produce breakthrough results.
With its mix of elite competition and local pride, the PSA BDO Namibian Open continues to cement Windhoek’s growing reputation as a hub for international squash.
As players arrive from across Namibia and abroad, all signs point to a compelling week of athleticism, intensity and sporting drama.
Power Line Africa, BDO Namibia, Namib Poultry Industries, Novel Ford Windhoek, Ecoso Dynamics, Van Loveren and VE Collective are among the generous local sponsors helping to ensure a smoothly run tournament.
The first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) are dedicated to the PSA Squash Tour men’s event, endorsed by the Professional Squash Association, where a total of 15 000 US dollars in prize money will be up for grabs.
From Thursday until the big finals on Saturday, the BDO Namibian Open will once again deliver spectacular duels in the women’s (A and B) and men’s (A to D) divisions.
With a total of 249 matches featuring 130 players representing 14 countries, this week will live up to its billing as the biggest annual squash event on Namibian soil.
Star-studded women’s draw
Alexa Commins, who won the South African national championship this year and has reached an impressive highest world ranking position of 21st, will be the top ranked women’s player.
Last month Commins also won the Western Province title for the 11th time in 15 years.
Her 24-year-old compatriot Shelomi Truter will be the second seed, followed by Dené van Zyl who grew up in Windhoek and recently successfully defended her title as South African U19 champion.
The women’s number 4 will be Carla Nortje from Wanderers; Charne Fourie from Swakopmund (Namibia’s number one) is ranked number five, followed by the country’s former number one Lida-Marie Calitz who returns to action for this tournament.
Zanti Hansen (7th) and Adri Lambert (8th) are also among the leading contenders.
World-class men’s competition
A deep draw of 32 players in the A Division speaks to the level of men’s competition expected.
The Netherlands’ ambitious Sam Gerrits will be the number one ranked men’s player for the BDO Namibian Open A Division.
“I’m driven by the belief that nothing is impossible for those who are willing. For me, that means chasing the dream of playing at the Olympics.
“I fell in love with squash while watching my father play from my maxi-cosi, dreaming of one day competing on the world’s biggest stages. Since squash became an Olympic sport for Los Angeles 2028, I’ve paused my studies to fully focus on this dream,” Gerrits states on his website.
John Anderson of South Africa is ranked second ahead of Germany’s 19-year-old Finn Koch, who has been playing on the PSA Tour since 2022.
Blessing Muhwati of Zimbabwe (nr 4) reached the quarter-finals in Windhoek last year after beating John Anderson 3-0. South Africa’s Dean Venter is ranked number 5, one ahead of Egypt’s Aly Tolba.
Reigning Western Province champion Mighael Lombard enters the tournament as the seventh seed.
Nigeria’s Oladipupo Ayomide lost last year’s Men’s A Open final and returns to be seeded eighth.
From number 9 to 16 are Jimmy van Niekerk (Eastern Cape, RSA); Le-Hugo van Rooyen (Namibia’s number two); Luke van Vuuren (RSA); Arno Diekmann (Namibia’s number one); Manda Chilambwe (Zambia); Nikhil Pather (Pretoria, RSA); Faruq Sulaimon (Nigeria) and Brandon Grane (Namibia).
Since 2024
Last year’s edition delivered packed crowds, tight matches and standout performances from rising stars and seasoned campaigners.
Mohamed Nasser of Egypt won the 2024 PSA BDO Namibian Open, delivering a dominant and near-flawless display in the final to beat Dewald van Niekerk of South Africa (11-2, 11-5, 11-2) – even overcoming a bout of food poisoning during the competition week.
The 2024 women’s draw was smaller, but delivered a competitive final in which Polite Mbare from Zimbabwe beat her compatriot Natasha Gwidzima in the final.
Namibia’s Carla Nortje (third) finished the best of the local entries, but had to fight back in the five-set bronze final to beat Adri Lambert.
For Namibian players, the Open remains a crucial stage — an opportunity to test themselves against visiting professionals, gain experience under pressure, and measure their progress against top talent from abroad.
Local supporters will be eager to see whether home-grown contenders can ride the energy of familiar courts and passionate spectators to produce breakthrough results.
With its mix of elite competition and local pride, the PSA BDO Namibian Open continues to cement Windhoek’s growing reputation as a hub for international squash.
As players arrive from across Namibia and abroad, all signs point to a compelling week of athleticism, intensity and sporting drama.
Power Line Africa, BDO Namibia, Namib Poultry Industries, Novel Ford Windhoek, Ecoso Dynamics, Van Loveren and VE Collective are among the generous local sponsors helping to ensure a smoothly run tournament.
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