Squash titles should make a big racquet

HOBART hosts the country’s best squash players this month at the Australian Masters Squash Championships.

The two-week tournament starts today with about 600 competitors contesting the singles and team action at Eastside Squash and Fitness at Bellerive.

“The first week will feature our individual players with the [state-based] teams to play in the second week across both the Eastside centre and Parsons Sports Centre in Moonah,” Tasmanian competitor Gaye Mitchell said.

Mitchell recently returned to the state after taking out the Individual World Masters Squash Championship in the 65 to 69 years category in the US.

“The last six months I have targeted that tournament … so when it all comes off, it’s very good,” she said.

The World Masters are held every two years, with Mitchell also winning the championship in the 55-year age group in New Zealand in 2008.

“I’m from a large family and, growing up, sport was our outlet but I played netball and athletics, so I wasn’t really exposed to squash until my early 20s,” she said.

Mitchell says her love of squash and its ability to build friendships is the reason behind her long stay.

“The friends that you make within the game are great and it’s a high-energy, maximum-value sport which I love.”