Professional squash players have arrived in the city for a world-class tournament.
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An array of the world's top players will compete in the Bendigo Open 2019 Squash Championships.
The tournament is hosted by the Bendigo Squash Centre and will see players from across the world take to the courts.
Squash professional Grace Gear, 21, is ranked 105th in the world and has been playing for 16 years.
"It's going to be really great to put all of my training into practice and show what I can do whilst playing against girls of similar abilities," Gear said.
"Squash is a really enjoyable sport and I've grown up playing."
With more than a decade of experience, Gear knows how challenging the sport can be, with her lowest ever rank 85th in the world.
"Ultimately you have to improve yourself as a player and then the results will follow," Gear said.
2019 marks the first time Gear has travelled to Bendigo for the tournament, which has been hosted in the city for the previous five years.
The tournament will run from August 1-4 and is comprised of two parallel competitions, a Professional Squash Association international event and the amateur level Parmalat Graded Event.
Bendigo's own Ian Kirkby, 78, is the oldest competitor in the tournament and will take to the court in the graded event.
"I play every time we have the competition here," Kirkby said.
Kirkby has been playing squash for 62 years, and takes every opportunity he has to compete.
"It's a great competition to play in and even better to be able to do it here in Bendigo," Kirkby said.
Bendigo Squash president Russell McLean was excited to see all of the players gearing up for the tournament.
"To view such incredible levels of squash in our own backyard is a treat and wouldn't be possible without the amazing volunteers and support from the City of Greater Bendigo," McLean said.
"There are Bendigo players who are now retired and they come along to watch and they are amazed at the level of skill they are seeing played at the club."
The tournament at the Bendigo Squash Centre commences on Thursday with both the men's and women's round one PSA matches.
The Parmalat Graded Event amateur matches will then commence on Friday.
Spectators are invited to attend for free and will catch a glimpse of some of the world's best in action.
"Whether you attend as a spectator or player, we wish you a fantastic time at our event," McLean said.
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