Whanganui squash player Maximus Mathews (right) will represent New Zealand at the Junior Squash World Championships in Cairo, Egypt, in July. Photo / Kelsi Carrick Photography
Whanganui squash player Maximus Mathews (right) will represent New Zealand at the Junior Squash World Championships in Cairo, Egypt, in July. Photo / Kelsi Carrick Photography
A Whanganui teenager is set to represent New Zealand at the World Squash Junior Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
Cullinane College student Maximus Mathews has been selected in the national team to travel to Cairo, Egypt, at the end of July.
The 17-year-old was rapt to be given theopportunity.
“I’m pretty excited - it should be good,” he said.
“It was a big goal from the start of the year to be in the team and I thought in the selection tournament I gave myself the best chance possible to get in, so I was pretty proud.”
“Dad played and I went down for a few hits and realised I liked it,” he said.
Mathews has been playing squash since he was 8.
Mathews said his love for the sport had only grown over the nine years he had played and the future of squash was in good hands.
“I’ve been given great opportunities to see new places, meet new people and grow to find new ways to better myself,” Mathews said.
“I’ve made heaps of new friends along the way and I’ve had a few opportunities to coach some young ones coming through which is good - it seems like the sport is getting better.”
Mathews said he knew the boys he would be playing alongside as the squash community was “closely grouped” and he had trained with coach Williams a few times.
Mathews will compete in the individual and team categories.
Looking ahead, Mathews wants to continue playing squash to see how far he can go.
