Tauranga to host major world event

Top New Zealand under-19 player Finn Trimble, right, in action against world number one from Egypt Youseff Ibrahim. Photo/Supplied

New Zealand's best under-19 players are gearing up for the biggest challenge of their young squash careers.

The WSF Men's and Women's World Junior Individual Championships takes place in Tauranga from July 19 to 24 with the 17th biennial WSF Women's World Junior Team Championships to follow from July 25 to 29.

The event will feature the best 250 under-19 players in the world and is the biggest international sporting championship to be held in Tauranga.

Egyptians were seeded to win both individual titles and a seventh successive women's title. Youssef Ibrahim and Hania El Hammamy were the top seeds in the men's and women's events after both reached the semifinals of the 2016 championships in Poland.

The Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre in Tauranga wuld be the main base for the 10-day tournament, with support from the Te Puke and Mount Maunganui squash clubs.

A magnificent fully-enclosed glass court would hold centre stage at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre and was set to be a viewing highlight for spectators.

For Joanne Williams, the New Zealand women's coach for both the individual and team components, this would be her fourth world championships.

Two years ago, the team came sixth, which Williams said was a really good result.

"We almost got in the top four last time. You never what the level is because it is juniors and so much changes in two years," she said.

"We have a young, developing team with two 18-year-olds but two others in Kaitlyn Watts and Anika Jackson who are eligible in two years' time."

Williams saw New Zealand having their best chance in the teams event.

"We will be hoping to cause an upset somewhere in the individual before we focus on doing the best we can in the team event."

New Zealand men's coach Glen Wilson said his players could not wait for the tournament to start.

"We don't get events this big in New Zealand squash so it is a great opportunity for our locally based players to play in an event like this," he said.

"The boys are lucky it is in New Zealand this year. Playing in front of your family and friends, coaches and support staff is pretty rare. I think we have only had this event twice here in our history. For our guys it is very exciting."

Wilson was pleased the tournament was being held in Tauranga.

"The excitement is building in Tauranga obviously. They have got a great facility and are very good at running events."

Next year, Wilson takes the junior boys' team to India to the world championship so this was a great opportunity for them to test their skills against the best.

Organising committee chairperson Wayne Werder said he had no doubts Tauranga had the ability to host an event on this scale.

"This will hopefully be the catalyst to hosting more big events at that world level. For the confidence of other world bodies to see Tauranga as a genuine option I think it is quite critical we get this one right.

"It is a massive opportunity for us to be seen as a world event destination."