Australian Rising Star Under 21 Championship
With the success of the Australian Open U21 Rising Star Championships in 2011 we will once again be holding this event it conjunction with the Australian Open.
Last year the Rising Star was a closed event only allowing Australian residents to compete but with the interest from international players wanting to enter in 2011 we have decided that in 2012 to make the tournament an open event.
Sarah Cardwell the defending champion will have some tough competition to maintain her title if we see entries from international rising stars such as Emily Whitlock of England, Dipika Pallikal of India and Amanda Sobhy from the United States. But we could see all these girls go through to the 2nd round of the main draw of the Australian Open Women’s Championships as they climb the WSA rankings. Another Australian hopeful is Tamika Saxby who was the runner up in 2011 she will be looking to win the championship this year.
Jamie McErvale last year’s men’s winner doesn’t qualify for the event this year as he is too old so we will see a new Australian Open U21 Rising Star men’s champion in 2012. Canberra’s Josh Southwell-Nobbs is the local hopeful to take out the event but he will have some strong Australian competition from Rhys Dowling of the Northern Territory, Matt Bridle of Western Australia and Joshua Stack- Masula of Queensland. As with the women’s there could be some strong international competition if we see entries from Lance James Beddoes of New Zealand, Mahesh Mangaonkar of India and from Egypt Tarek Shehata, Fares Dessouki and Mohamed Abouelgar.
The Australian Rising Star U21 Championships are not formal WSA or PSA events, but are recognised by Squash Australia. This allows the organisers to be more flexible in scheduling and draws to ensure that players who make the first or second round of the main draw of the Australian Open can still have an opportunity to compete in the Under 21 Championships if they choose.
This event allows the players who are just beginning their professional career to showcase the talents that will inspire us in later years. It can be tough on the Tour - playing World Top Ten players in the first or second rounds. The Australian Rising Star U21 Championship gives young emerging talent the opportunity to compete and possibly play the final on the Centre Court in front of a large crowd immediately before the Open Finals.
There will be no qualifying event for this tournament and draw sizes will be dependent on the number of entries received and a plate event will be held. All players entering the event must be under 21 years of age at the commencement of the tournament.
Matches will be played at Woden Squash Centre with the men and women’s final played before the Australian Open finals on the all glass centre court at the Royal Theatre.
Please download the entry form and complete it below. Email or call the Woden Squash Centre on (02) 6281 4784 or Squash ACT on (02) 6282 3824 for further details.
Spectators for the Championships at the Woden Squash Centre are most welcome and free of any charges.
Australian U21 Championships Entry Form 2012 - Entries Close 13th August 2012
