THE MultiChoice Namibian Closed was held at the Wanderers Squash Club recently with a total of 48 players competing for the chance to be crowned the best male or female squash player in the country.
Defending champion and Namibian number one ranked Marco Becker started the tournament as the favourite to lift the trophy he won last year in Walvis Bay, and successfully defended his title by beating Michau Basson 3 – 0 in the final to cement his place as the best player in the country and arguably the best player ever in Namibian squash history. Andrew Forrest, a product of the efforts of the Namibian Squash Association (NSA), finished third, after Tyc Kakehongo, the favourite to contest the final against Becker, injured his shoulder in the semi-finals while one game up on Basson. The Men’s B section was won by Jörn Schnoor who beat Le Hugo Van Rooyen 3 – 1 in the final. Van Rooyen, another product of the development process being steered by the squash association, is one to watch for the future and a possible future champion.The ladies section saw the total domination of Carin Pretorius, who beat Isabelle Schnoor 3 – 0 in the final, and follow up her victory at the Bandits Windhoek Open in June earlier this year. Pretorius, who did not drop a single game throughout the tournament, is in a class of her own in the ladies division without any challengers to her dominance. As a reward, she will compete at the 10th World Masters Squash Championships in Cologne in Germany from August 23 to 28.Becker acknowledged the NSA for their commitment to squash in the country as well as MultiChoice for their continued support towards sport in the country. He also praised the standard of organisation and the level Namibian squash has attained in such a short period.The first Trustco Namibian juniors squash open will take place this weekend at the Wanderers Squash Club, of which more than 40 young squash players from Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund will showcase their talents. NSA Development Officer and coach Tyc Kakehongo has urged the business fraternity, parents, players and the general public to come and see what the game of squash is about and the high level of squash being played by the Namibian youngsters.Nelson Herunga, the Vice Chairman of the NSA encouraged more people to take up the game of squash. In 2003, Forbes magazine rated squash as the healthiest sport to play.
