A STRONG pool of international and Australian talent is set to light up the 2018 Bendigo International Open next week.
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For the fourth consecutive year, Bendigo will host professional players from around Australia and the world at the Bendigo Squash Centre from July 12–15.
As a PSA World Tour event, squash fans in Central Victoria will be treated to a high-quality spectacle of squash, with players competing in the Men and Women’s Open divisions vying for a share in the respective $5000 prize pools.
The tournament will also feature graded competitions as part of the Victorian Grand Prix Squash Circuit that will showcase some of the state’s top amateur talent.
In the women’s open, a selection of Australia’s top female squash players are set to feature, with Australian 2018 Commonwealth Games representative Christine Nunn (world no. 45) entering the tournament as top seed.
Nunn’s Commonwealth Games doubles partner Sarah Cardwell (58) shapes as another strong threat for the title, while fellow Australian players Taylor Flavell (101) and Selena Shaikh (119) round out the top four seeds.
An invasion of international talent is set to descend on Bendigo for the men’s open, with Englishman Joe Green (129) heading into the event as the top seed, while Ireland’s Sean Conroy (143) and France’s Enzo Corigliano (155) are also favoured to feature deep into the tournament.
Australia’s best hope appears to be sixth seed Joel Luca, who along with fellow Queenslander Lachlan Coxsedge (eighth seed), will be doing their best to challenge the overseas raiders as the only seeded Australian players in the draw.
The action at the 2018 Bendigo International Open kicks off on Thursday July 12 with the men’s open qualifying matches, before the first round of main draw matches in both open competitions get underway on Friday.
City of Greater Bendigo Manager tourism and major event manager Terry Karamaloudis said the city was pleased to be hosting the Bendigo International Open for the fourth year.
“This event always attracts a great mix of international athletes and is a fantastic event for our local players to participate in as well," he said.
“We look forward to another successful event and encourage all visiting players, officials and supporters to enjoy the very best of Bendigo while they are here.”
