Aria Bannister, front, playing against Squashgym's Sophie Bell at a recent Squash Central Junior Development Camp.
Aria Bannister, front, playing against Squashgym's Sophie Bell at a recent Squash Central Junior Development Camp.
Whanganui's Aria Bannister will be the sole local representative at the NZ Junior Age Group Squash Champs at the North Shore Squash Club, starting this coming Thursday.
Father Rod Bannister, the former New Zealand masters champion, said his daughter will go into the Girls Under 11 draw as the No2 seed, taking a bye in the first round and playing her first match next Friday.
"She's only one of two 10-years-old girls in New Zealand with a D grading on the Squash NZ rankings.
"[She] has had a phenomenal year for someone so young – seeing her rise from a J2 grading. playing exclusively kids events, to playing against adults to gain her current grading of D2 after winning her tough ladies division at the Feilding B grade tournament last weekend."
Bannister is the Squash Central U11 Girls champion, runnerup at the North Island Age Group Championships, represented Central against Eastern in the Junior One Day Challenge, and was a winner in E Grade at the Whanganui Squash Club Championships while also winning several women's divisions at senior tournaments.
Racket brand Eye have come on board as an official sponsor.
The NZ Junior champs will conclude next Sunday, with age groups from Under 19 to Under 11, including current New Zealand players who went to world championships.
