The University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University Sport South Africa (USSA) hosted the prestigious International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Championship Squash.
Spanish squash talent Marta Dominguez Fernandez and Frenchman Baptiste Christopher Bouin, were champions of the individual events. The two concluded their final clashes in entertaining style against Hong Kong China’s, Nga Ching Cheng, in the women’s final and Wai Lok To, in the men’s event.
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Bouin cruised his way to the final with three match wins. At the Parkview Squash Centre, he easily won the opening match against Yukun Sun, with a final score of 3–0 (11–4, 11–4 and 11–3). In the second encounter, he met Jerome Clement Aw, winning the match with 3–0 (11–4, 11–9 and 11–5) before eliminating Yat Long Chung in the semi-final.
To, who competed in his first-ever championship final, also became the star of the show with impressive victories from the opening match to the final. He won the first match against Brazilian international Pedro Henrique Rozes 3–0 (11–7, 11–4 and 11–4) and the second match against Brendan Macdonald 3–0 (11–6, 11–6 and 11–7). In the third set, To eliminated Frenchman Macéo Levy in a fiercely contested match that ended 3–2 after five sets (8–11, 5–11, 11–5, 11–6 and 13–11).
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Bouin and To were the strong contenders for the title, with Bouin emerging as the winner.
In the ladies’ events, Fernandez met Cheng who had done well in the first three matches against Yee Lam Toby Tse (11–9, 9–11, 11–6, and 14–12) and Tamara Holzbauerova (11–9, 11–5, 11–7) as well as Ayumi Watanabe (11–5, 11–5, 11–6) at Parkview Squash Centre.
Fernandez beat won 11–5, 11–8, 11–5 against Kara Lincou in the quarter-final match and Ching Hei Fung (10–12, 11–6, 11–4,
11–6) in the semi-final. She opened her first match with a three-sets win over Kurumi Takahashi with a final score of 11–3, 11–5 and 11–4 (3–0).
With 66 players having contested in the individual events, the FISU World University Championship Squash ended with two of the world’s best players from Hong Kong China and Spain. The top four performers included Tse and Fung raising their hands among the best players in the world. Hong Kong China was dominant in this championship with most of their players reaching the quarter- and semi-finals.
The event brought together squash players from 14 countries from across the world, with over 70 competitors representing regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia.
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