Nadi to host squash open tourney
THE Jack’s of Fiji-sponsored Nadi Squash Open Championship at the Nadi Sports and Social Club (NSSC) next weekend is expected to unearth some hidden talents with the high number of novice participants.
The players who are part of the NSSC squash development program are expected to make up bulk of the draw.
NSSC director Leilani Tokalautawa said they expected a total of 60 players to participate in the two-day event.
She said sport was highly active at the club with lessons offered for juniors and adults headed by their elite players.
“We expect more junior players to play in the Nadi Open and surprisingly there is great interest from the novice players,” Tokalautawa said.
“They will be participating in the tournament for the first time and these players have been attending our squash lessons at the club.
“We have squash lessons for juniors and adults. We have also started a fortnightly women’s
competition. This is to encourage more women to take up the sport.
“There is a social competition every Friday night so members can come and play.
“It is a random draw so sometimes a novice player can come up against an A Grade player. This event has become popular.”
Fiji’s number one women’s player Alison Yee will be among the top seeds along with Daniel Fong who is ranked in the top three in the men’s category.
Fonmanu Rigamoto and Chamath Karunaratne are the other players to look out for in the top flight.
Tokalautawa said rising star Atul Mangal would be the player to watch in the B Grade.
“Atul started off as a novice player last year and moved up the ranks to C Grade and is now in the B Grade,” she said.