Austrian Squash Association Makes Strides in 2022 with New Board Members and Funding Boost

The Austrian Squash Association had a standout year in 2022, despite facing challenges at the start due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spring, the focus shifted to training young, top-performing players, and the hard work paid off with a string of impressive victories. Daniel LUTZ dominated at the Italian and Portuguese Junior Open tournaments, while Katharina GASTL triumphed at the Portuguese Junior Open. Kristian SEINER and Samuel WINKLER also had successful runs at the Croatian, Slovenian, Slovak, and Portuguese Junior Opens.

In April 2022, the Austrian Squash Association welcomed new members to its board and reorganized tasks, creating a dynamic team of eight people. This group made significant strides through the development of 17 new concepts, well-planned funding applications, and the success of its young players, as well as through ongoing training and professional work with the Federal Sports Organization. These efforts resulted in an increase in funding, providing the association with greater flexibility and opportunities in the coming year.

Not only did the men’s and women’s teams both remain in the second division of their respective competitions, but individual funding was also provided for top athletes. The Head Bundesliga Austria, Head Elite Tournament Series, and Austrian Junior Circuit were held on 18 weekends throughout the year, and state and national championship titles were awarded on an additional five weekends.

Squash in Austria has come a long way in recent years, and a big part of this success is due to the hard work and dedication of our national head coach, Heribert Monschein.

As one of the active leaders of the Austrian Squash federation, Monschein has tirelessly devoted himself to the development and growth of the sport in our country. His passion for squash is evident in all that he does, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Thanks to Monschein’s leadership, Austria has seen a number of impressive victories and achievements in recent years. From there, it is clear that Monschein’s dedication to developing the skills and abilities of our players has paid off.

But Monschein’s contributions go beyond just the success of our players. He has also been instrumental in helping the Austrian Squash Association secure increased funding and in the restructuring of the organization’s board, leading to even more opportunities and growth for the sport in Austria.

We are grateful for everything that Heribert Monschein has done for squash in Austria and are excited to see all the great things that are yet to come. Thank you, Monschein, for your tireless efforts and dedication to the game.

Tweet

Looking ahead, the future of squash in Austria is bright, with a line-up of exciting events on the horizon.

In January, the British Junior Open will take place in Birmingham, followed by various national championships and the Czech Junior Open in Prague. The Elite and Youth Tournament (Teams) will be held in Graz at the end of the month, and February will see the Slovenian Junior Open in Ljubljana and the German Junior Open in Hamburg. The Austrian Junior Open will round out the series of events in March, taking place in Vienna. The Austrian Squash Association is poised for continued success and is eager to see what the future holds for this exciting and challenging sport.

Squash is a popular and rapidly growing sport in Austria, with a strong and dedicated community of players and fans. However, here are a 3 lesser-known facts about the sport in Austria that may be of interest:

1. Austria has a number of top-ranked squash players who have achieved success on the international stage. In 2021, Austria’s Aqeel Rehman was ranked among the top 100 players in the world.
2. Squash is often considered a “niche” sport in Austria, but it has a dedicated following and a rich history. The Austrian Squash Association was founded in 1976 and has been promoting the growth and development of the sport in the country ever since.
3. Squash is played on a four-walled court, but did you know that Austria is home to a unique variation of the sport called “Padel”? Padel is similar to squash, but is played on a smaller court with a lower ceiling and walls with openings. It is especially popular in South America and Europe, and has gained a following in Austria in recent years.

Conclusion:

To summarize, the Austrian Squash Association experienced a productive and eventful year in 2022, overcoming initial obstacles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and achieving numerous victories through the diligence and perseverance of its young, elite players.

Tweet

Join me on my journey to discover the latest and greatest in the world of squash, and stay updated on all things related to this exciting and dynamic sport. Follow my blog for fresh, up-to-date content that will keep you motivated and inspired to get out on the court!