French and Spanish dominate FISU squash championship

The Johannesburg 2024 FISU World University Championship Squash unfolded as a vibrant celebration of athletic prowess, cultural diversity, and global unity.
For six exhilarating days, Johannesburg played host to some of the world’s finest student-athletes, transforming its courts at Parkview Squash Centre and the Wanderers Squash Club into battlegrounds of strategy and endurance. The tournament, hosted by the University of Johannesburg, wasn’t just a showcase of squash but a blend of sportsmanship and the city’s dynamic, cosmopolitan energy.

Read more: Wanderers Squash Club members polish their skills

In the women’s final, it was a battle of wits, endurance, and sheer willpower. Spain’s top-seed Marta Dominguez faced off against Hong Kong, China’s rising star, Nga Ching Cheng, in a match that pushed both players to their limits. Cheng, starting strong, dominated the opening game 7–1. But Dominguez, with her unyielding grit, clawed her way back, taking the second game 11–5 and following it up with a close 11–8 in the third. Cheng, refusing to be outdone, won a tight fourth game 11–9, forcing the match into a nerve-wracking fifth. With the tension at its peak, Dominguez came alive, storming through the final game 11–4 to claim the title, cementing her name as the new FISU World University Champion.

Also read: USSA Squash Championships make a racket

On the men’s side, France’s Baptiste Bouin delivered a masterclass in calm and control. Entering the tournament as a [5/8] seed, Bouin outplayed all expectations, not dropping a single game on his path to the final. His campaign saw victories over Sun Yu Kon from China, Singapore’s Jerome Aw, and Czech star Ondrej Vorlícek, before facing Hong Kong, China’s [9/16] seed Wai Lok To in the final. Bouin’s game was pure finesse – he kept his composure, winning in straight sets (11–4, 11–5, 11–9) in just 31 minutes, completing the tournament without losing a single game.

Bouin’s dominant performance, alongside Dominguez’s gutsy comeback, made for an unforgettable week of squash, where the beauty of the sport and the spirit of competition were on full display. The tournament wasn’t just about crowning champions; it was a celebration of international unity, the excitement of young talent, and the powerful force of sport in bringing people together. As the courts of Johannesburg quiet down, the echoes of this remarkable tournament will surely linger in the hearts of both players and spectators alike.

Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.

Related article: Padle is a mixture of tennis and squash