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Day 1
Our young Irish stars are a few days into the 2024 world junior experience here in Houston, Texas. They had a smooth journey from Ireland, through Chicago and were then met by the extreme heat at Houston airport.
The club, Houston Squash Club, is situated on a highway in a sort of industrial area. Not a footpath in sight. Certainly no strolls for a coffee between matches. It’s a very big squash club, two glass courts and 13 traditional glass backs. All courts play well and some even have the glass side walls for extra viewing pleasure – all in all a very impressive complex, courts scattered in all directions and the bleacher seating for the super bright show court will allow for big audiences.
The opening ceremony was held on the main glass court, a nice experience for all teams being introduced one by one and then seated to listen to the American national anthem performed by a singer kitted out in full Texas style denim, boots and hat.
With one of the biggest entries to any world junior championships, there are almost 250 players. All our Irish guys were facing world class opponents, all with mammoth tasks on their hands.
Danny Lynch was first up, facing top American Zane Patel. Danny held his own throughout the match, frustrated the 9/16 seed in all departments and had good leads in the first and third. A superb performance over all, one to be happy with but in the end a 3-0 victory to the American.
Conal Jackson pushed hard against a speedy player from Hong Kong. Showing glimpses of his brilliance, Conal managed to get to 6’s and 7’s but could not get close to the game balls. Great start for the 16 year old!
Yuv Pahuja an tan Snodgrass were both on the show court, a big change. Bright light, by cameras, big opponents- literally and physically.Yuv couldn’t manage to get into his Canadian opponent, always on the back foot but did put a good game together in the 2nd!
Tristan faced Marwan Asal, younger brother of Mostafa, who plays a similar style. Battering the ball past Tristan, then battering it straight into the nick. A super uncomfortable player to play against and one that will be a force going deep into the main draw. Tristan handled himself well for sure.
Day 2
Day two got off to a flyer. Danny Lynch put on a fine display to get a 3-0 victory over a South African player, finishing off the match at almost the exact same time as Ireland slotted the drop goal to beat the springboks in the rugby, great fun whilst sitting beside the South African team.
Yuv Pahuja had a Korean opponent, a team that posses some serious talent and could go deep. Yuv played out of his skin, amazing shots kept him in the running for the first two games but the third got away quickly but confidence growing.
Conal Jackson had another gutsy display against an Indian player who looked twice his age. Going two – love down, he mustered up something special to clinch the third. The fourth was a bridge too far.
Tristan Snodgrass was playing well in his encounter with a player from Guyana, going full throttle in the first and looking good. One nil up, at the start of the second, a lunge to the front left landed awkwardly for Tristan and he was rattled by this. He played out the match to no avail after some physio treatment but we will have to assess the full extent of the damage.
It’s hotel, bus and squash courts for the foreseeable for the team and travelling support, surrounded by some inspirational matches from the world’s best, they’ll be soaking it all up and learning as much as possible. Plenty more rounds to come over the next few days before the teams event.
Massive Thank you to David Noone for the Updates
Follow progress live – here
