On the heels of the World Squash Federation’s decision to relocate the 2015 World Junior Championships from Egypt due to security concerns, the United States has offered to host the tournament.
The WSF is set to select an alternate host in the coming weeks, and in pressing for a venue change, US Squash offered the U.S. as a viable plan “B”.
“We are admittedly relieved the venue will change as the safety of our players, coaches and their families is primary, ” said Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO of US Squash.
“We offered to host in the U.S. because we have the experience, and provided we can cover the costs, the impact on our other priorities would be minimal. In the end, it’s great for the kids to have an enriching cultural experience while traveling to this prestigious competition, so we just want a safe, well-run, fair squash event for the juniors and their coaches, and will gladly send the team to any location that provides such an experience.”
In 2011, the U.S. stepped in to host the World Junior Championships after political turmoil in Egypt forced the WSF to change locations last-minute. Working closely with Massachusetts Squash and Harvard University, US Squash organized a successful and memorable tournament at Harvard’s Murr Center where the U.S. junior women finished a best-ever second place.
The 2015 iteration of the World Junior Championships will include the annual junior men’s and junior women’s world individual championships, and the biennial junior women’s team championship, July 25-August 4.
The Team USA 2015 World Junior Championships squad will be finalized during the Team Trials held alongside the 2015 U.S. Junior Silver Championships, April 17-19.
Battle of the Border Extends Reach
As the nation’s top U19 juniors compete in the World Junior Championships this summer, the top U13, U15, and U17 juniors will face elevated competition in August’s Canadian American “Battle of the Border”, which has shifted formats from Team USA vs. Team Ontario, to Team USA vs. Team Canada.
The eleventh Battle of the Border will take place August 6-9 at its perennial home, the White Oaks Resort and Spa, in Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario.
Invitations to participate for Team USA in the Battle of the Border are scheduled to go out this week to the highest ranked, age-eligible juniors. The Battle sees four players, from the Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 age groups, both boys and girls, totaling twenty four players, come together to take part in a life-changing weekend.