Juniors get exposure

PAPUA New Guinea Squash Racquets Federation is pleased with the results of three PNG juniors who recently competed at the 2024 Australia Junior Open followed by the 2024 Oceania Junior Championship in Melbourne Australia.
The trio – Timonaliz Alarcos-Kriebisch (Under-13 girls), Ethan Kriebisch (U11) and Gabriella Cox (U17) – were among more than 300 juniors from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, North America and South Pacific who registered and competed at the Australian Junior Squash Tour Platinum event with a Glass Show Court.
The four-day tournament last week saw 10-year-old Ethan making his second appearance and placing ninth, 11-year-old Timonaliz also her second time to compete placing sixth in her division while 15-year-old Gabriella Cox who made her debut at this event placing 21st.
A total of 260 juniors from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, PNG, Norfolk Island, Fiji, Malaysia, Japan and Pakistan took part in this championship over the weekend.
More than 700 matches took place as championship grows in popularity as an open junior tournament.
Ethan placed ninth in the U11 boys category in his third Oceania Junior Championship appearance, Timonaliz placed fourth overall in the U13 girls, also in her at third appearance in the championship while Gabriella who debuted in the U17 girls was placed 20th.
Cox’s placing in that category is the best for PNG girls in recent years. Federation president Lady Anna Togolo was pleased with the exposure gained at the event.
“The experience gained from attending these elite competitions is part of our long-term strategy to take podium positions at the 2027 Tahiti Pacific Games,” she said of their participation.