Van Niekerk and Ismael triumph at African champs
Squash
The continental singles and team championships were hosted with great success in the Namibian capital.
South African squash star Dewald van Niekerk delivered a stellar performance to claim the men's title at the Trustco All Africa Individual Championships, hosted by the Namibian Squash Association. In a thrilling final on Saturday, Van Niekerk defeated his compatriot and training partner Damian Groenewald three sets to nil (11-4, 11-7, 11-3), with Egypt’s Abdullah Hafez securing the bronze medal.
In the women’s final, Egypt’s top seed Rana Ismail showcased her prowess in a nail-biting match against South Africa’s Hayley Ward.
Despite her challenger claiming one set, Ismail triumphed 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, delighting the crowd at Wanderers Squash Club.
Nigeria’s Rofiat Abdulazees clinched the women’s bronze medal.
The tournament earlier also saw Nigeria emerge victorious in the All Africa Squash Team Championships, winning both the men’s and women’s categories and cementing their position as a powerhouse in African squash.
The men’s team competition’s top three teams were Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Namibia’s men’s A team finished fourth while the B team placed sixth.
The women’s team competition had only three contestants, with Nigeria dominating against Namibia (second) and Uganda.
Winners reflect
Van Niekerk was elated after his victory, pointing out the hard work that led to his triumph.
“I’ve been training hard throughout the year, and this win proves all the effort was worth it. The ranking points are a big boost, and my goal of breaking into the world’s top 100 is now within reach. If I make it, it’ll be a career first for me.”
Rana Ismail, equally delighted, praised the competition and her achievement.
“Taking this title home is an incredible feeling. Following (countryman) Mohamed Nasser’s victory in the PSA BDO Namibian Open singles final (the week before), I’m thrilled to replicate his success.
“These points will significantly enhance my rankings, which was my primary goal.”
Milestone event
The championships, backed by Trustco Group Holdings, marked a significant milestone for squash in Africa.
Bringing together over 40 players from countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa, the tournament demonstrated the depth of talent across the continent.
Neville Basson, Trustco’s head of public relations, lauded the progress made. “Our commitment to developing squash at grassroots levels is evident in the talent on display. It’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come in 15 years."
Final matches were livestreamed on https://oneuptwo.com and YouTube, ensuring fans could relive the top-class excitement again and again.