Like a chess match played at 10 times the normal speed, one has to rapidly think several moves ahead of their opponent to out-manoeuvre them and win a point in squash.
This is how Kevin de Lange (45) describes his favourite sport.
Until recently, the Bromhof resident only played in the Johannesburg Reserve League and Easterns Provincial Men’s and other master’s leagues for Bryanston Sports Club. Now, he is a challenger on the world stage in his age group.
This year, De Lange came second in his age group at the Gauteng Masters and played in his first World Squash Federation (WSF) World Masters Squash Championships in Johannesburg at the end of September. There, he managed to make it to the second round losers plate final in the men’s 45 to 49 age category. The full-time accountant lost to Shane Hatwell of New Zealand 11–2, 11–4, 14–12 at the Wanderers Club in the final.
In total, De Lange’s run in the championship consisted of five wins and two losses – the first loss was against fellow South African, Donald Hector in the second round, which relegated De Lange to the second round losers plate division. “The championships were fantastic,” he said.
“Sports conditioner, Hannes Schoeman helped me prepare for a year for my first World Masters event. I loved it, and now a bug has bitten. I have to play in as many international squash tournaments as possible.” De Lange plans to sate this need by playing in the 2017 World Masters Games in New Zealand in April.
He has always been a sporty person, having played hockey, soccer, tennis and cricket when he was younger.
He has also swum the Midmar Mile, and cycled the Cape Argus six times. Yet the mental side, rather than physical aspect, has long been the source of his enjoyment in squash. “When I was six my mum was a squash coach and she invited me to start learning the game. I found that I loved the mental challenge of out-thinking other players.”
De Lange said there were two people over the age of 80 who played in this year’s World Masters, and he would play the game until he could no longer walk.
