Southland Squash Open attracts pro brothers
“We will have 180 matches across both venues and all of the Division Finals will be played at Squash City on Saturday afternoon and evening.”
WHAT: 2023 fi innovations Southland Open
WHEN: May 26-27
WHERE: Squash City (Onslow St, Invercargill), ILT Stadium Southland
By Nathan Burdon
Two of New Zealand’s top four men’s squash players will make their fi innovations Southland Open debuts in Invercargill this weekend.
The Southland Open has become a key date on the New Zealand squash calendar in recent years, with a record field assembling in 2022 and the capped 120-strong field for 2023 filling up in just one week when registrations opened in February.
Lwamba and Temwa Chileshe, ranked number two and four respectively in the country, will be the number one and two seeds in the men’s draw when they line up for the first time in Invercargill.
The brothers both play professionally and made their Commonwealth Games debuts for New Zealand in Birmingham last year, while Temwa is in good form after finishing runner-up at the Auckland Open last weekend. It’s hoped the brother will be able to provide coaching sessions before and after the tournament.
With Joe Williams from Canterbury returning to defend his 2022 title, the men’s draw is stacked, including five A1-ranked players, which is the highest level a player can reach, and three A2s.
The women’s field includes last year’s runner-up Emma Cormack from Canterbury and 2021 winner Anna O’Connor and features five A grade players.
Each Open Division will be chasing $1000 in prize money thanks to fi innovations.
Squash Southland District Manager Bruce Thirkell was pleased to see entries from all over the South Island, as well as Auckland, Wellington, Waikato and one Australian-based player.
“We are really excited to have received so much support from the squash community and there will be no shortage of action across the courts at Squash City and ILT Stadium Southland. It’s shaping up to be an awesome event.
“We will have 180 matches across both venues and all of the Division Finals will be played at Squash City on Saturday afternoon and evening,” Thirkell said.