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PE siblings head seedings for regional squash qualifier

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Port Elizabeth siblings Rudi van Niekerk and Lizelle Muller are the local favourites to qualify for the Growthpoint SA Nationals squash tournament when the regional event kicks off at Londt Park in PE on Thursday.

This is one of eight regional competitions taking place around the country, with the men’s and women’s winners of each advancing to the main event at the Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria from October 15 to 17.

Muller was a beaten finalist in the 2019 Nationals, losing to Milnay Louw, and it is difficult to see anyone in the women’s draw preventing her march to Pretoria.

It will be interesting, though, to see how young East London sisters Taryn and Kelly Emslie, two of the country’s rising juniors, fare against their older opponents. The disruptive school year has not given them much time on court, but it should be a good experience for the pair.

The men’s draw has installed Van Niekerk as the favourite to qualify for next week’s event, but he will have players such as Lawrence Kuhn, Tyrone Dial and junior Dean Venter snapping at his heels.

It should make for a weekend of highly competitive squash, getting under way at Londt Park on Thursday. Play will also take place there on Saturday, while Crusaders will be the venue for the Friday and Sunday matches.

Eastern Province have a good spread of players in the regional tournaments as Squash SA have placed the leading contenders in different hubs.

Hayley Ward is the top seed for the Bloemfontein tournament and Jacqui Ryder heads the field in the Joburg qualifier.

In addition, Dewald van Niekerk, the younger brother of Rudi and Lizelle, is the firm favourite in Potchefstroom where he is studying at Pukke and plays provincially for SA Country Districts.

Meanwhile, after a disruptive year, Cape Town’s Alex Fuller is excited at having a chance to compete in the Nationals as she targets a third title overall.

Fuller is the top seed in the Cape Town hub, but admits to some nerves as she contemplates the matches ahead.

“It is my first tournament back, like so many others competing in the Growthpoint SA Nationals, so the nerves and excitement levels will be high, I am sure,” the 27-year-old said.

“My goal going in to the regional nationals is to win so I get to play in Pretoria and fight for the SA title. There is always great pride in winning your national tournament and so it means a lot for me to go out there and do my best to win.”

Despite the uncertainty created by Covid-19, Fuller has been working hard to get to full fitness.

“I feel like I am match-ready,” she said. “I have been putting in a lot of hours training and getting myself geared up, and I am excited to compete again.” 

Ranked 35 in the world, the talented SA professional is targeting a return to the international circuit, which she joined as a rising star in 2013. Her best year so far has been 2018 when she won five pro titles.

“I am currently in the process of organising and sorting a visa to get back to the UK to stay long-term and to base myself from there,” she said.

“The tour has resumed but due to international travel in and out of South Africa, I am unable to travel at this point.”
 
The top seeds for the regional hubs are:

Women: Alex Fuller (Cape Town), Lizelle Muller (PE), Cara Fourie (Potchefstroom), Farrah Sterne (Pretoria), Teagan Roux (Pietermaritzburg), Samantha Herbert (Durban), Jacqui Ryder (Joburg), Hayley Ward (Bloemfontein).

Men: Gary Wheadon (Cape Town), Rudi van Niekerk (PE), Dewald van Niekerk (Potchefstroom), JP Brits (Pretoria), Christo Potgieter (Pietermaritzburg), Makho Ntuli (Durban), Rodney Durbach (Joburg), Ruan Olivier (Bloemfontein).

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.