Open to showcase best players’ skills

EXCITING squash action is taking centre-stage in Buffalo City Metro from tonight as the East London Open is battled out over the next four days.

Some of the country’s best players will be on show with some close encounters expected to be had as the players go all out for top spot.

“I am quite excited for the tournament. We have good number one and two seeds so it will be nice for the guys to see how those guys play,” tournament organiser Tim Leeuw said.

“The top eight are very closely matched so it is very hard to call who is going to win and it should throw up some really good games.”

The tournament’s top seed will be Cape Town’s Gary Wheadon, who is ranked in the top 10 in the country.

Jason le Roux will be the number two seed and the Port Elizabeth-based Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University squash head coach will be eager to take the win.

Rising squash talent Adam Shean, who is studying at the University of Cape Town, will also be in the mix as the number three seed.

Having attended the Junior World Men’s last year, Shean will look to the experience gained to help him along the way.

Both Le Roux and Shean are East Londonborn players.

Border’s number one ranked player, Kelvin Edwards, will then be the fourth seed.

Edwards finished as the runner-up in last year’s tournament and he will hope to go one step further this time.

Last year’s winner, Jojo Shean, will not be taking part this year, so there will be a new champion.

The most promising youngster taking part will be Selborne College’s Tristen Worth, who is the current South African number one in his age category.

The 15-year-old Worth will be gunning for a top showing as he prepares to take part in the inter-provincial tournament next month.

In all, 25 players will be taking part with entrants coming from East London, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

“Fans are in for a very good treat and should come out and watch the action,” said Leeuw.

“Tournaments always bring out the best in people and it should be very exciting.”

The first round of matches gets under way tonight from 6.30pm at Buffs Squash Courts.

Tomorrow will see a Youth Day Coaching clinic held at Buffs from 10am to 12pm. Any junior players interested in receiving coaching are welcome.

Round two of the tournament will take place at Beacon Bay Country Club from 4pm.

The semifinals will be held at Old Boys on Saturday from 10am, with the bottom half of the draw’s knockouts starting at Hams at 3pm.

The finals will be held at Cambridge squash courts from 11am on Sunday.