Bunbury Squash Club junior competitor Eva French lives and breathes the game.
Eva, 13, and her sister, Isabella (15), caught the squash bug in Kalgoorlie in 2011.
After first picking up a racquet at seven, Eva trained tirelessly before moving into competitive squash in 2015.
“I like to compete in as many tournaments as I can, but I definitely like playing in Silver tournaments which give you more points and add to your ranking in Australia,” she said.
Last year, Eva travelled to Japan to play in the 2017 Japan Junior Open.
Eva lost her first match but won her second, qualifying her for the tournament’s plate division. Her efforts saw her place 11th out of 64.
More recently, she came sixth in the Australian Junior Open on the Gold Coast.
In June, she celebrated as her team – the Southern Smashers, featuring players from Bunbury, Narrogin, Katanning, and Manjimup – won the teams event at the 2018 State Junior Squash Championships.
“It was really good that we were able to win, it’s a win we had been trying to get for a long time,” she said.
“The fact that I was able to be part of that winning team made me feel proud.
“I feel I improve after every tournament, and I feel really good where I am at right now with my form.”
Placing fourth in the individuals event, Eva earned herself the chance to represent Western Australia in September’s National Junior Championships in Darwin.
Prior to that, Eva will head to Mirrabooka to play in the annual Country Week competition.
Squash is a family affair for the French household. Eva’s father, Nigel French, serves as Bunbury Squash Club’s junior coordinator, while her mother, Leanne French, participates as a club member.
Like Eva, Isabella competed in last year’s Australian Junior Championships in Geelong.
Mrs French said she was thrilled with her daughters’ efforts and the club’s remarkable selection of players.
Interested in having a go? Visit the club’s Facebook page for more details.
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