PAPUA New Guinea Squash Racquets Federation has had an eventful year focusing on their junior development pathway that saw several juniors make their debut in tournaments overseas.

President Lady Anna Togolo said the Port Moresby Racquets Club has become home to PNG squash unearthing more talents as they look to continue the development pathway.

“This year’s focus was all about our juniors who most have made their debut for PNG this year among those who already had their fair share last year and the year before.”

“16-year old Gabriella Cox had showed prowess and was the first to make her debut for PNG at the 2024 Australian Junior Open as well as the Oceania Junior Championship in Australia.”

“We also had Andre Awui who made represented PNG at the OJCs in 2022 and 2023 make his debut at the Queensland Juniors in Australia.”

Meanwhile 13-year old Timonaliz Alarcos-Kriebisch who was named 2024 Junior female athlete of the year at the SP Sports Awards did not disappoint as she claimed the Australian U13 Girls title following impressive competitions in the Australian Junior Squash Championships.

 Her younger brother Ethan also did well in the competition before the pair flew off with Mum and former PNG squashy Merlyn Alarcos to Europe to compete in Italy and Portugal junior competitions.

Lady Anna said despite receiving devastating news that squash has been excluded in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, they will continue to build on the junior development and focus on other events including the 2025 Oceania Closed in Samoa and 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti.

“In 2022 we sent two of our juniors Amity Alarcos and Feanor Siaguru to compete under the Team PNG at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, they have now reached the elite level stage and will be focused on other tournaments.”

“Its unfortunate that squash wont be included in the next commonwealth games however we are determined to prepare for other events including the Oceania Closed in Fiji where we Amity won bronze for PNG last year.”

“Our PNG Elite Girls are also building on their training each day as we aim to take a young team to the next Pacific Games in Tahiti come 2027,” she added.

The Port Moresby Racquets Club also hosted another successful Pom Open (Squash & Tennis) that saw emerging talents unleash their skills on the courts, this included juniors from Lae as well.

 A very competition local competition that saw elites Amity Alarcos and Australian based Josh Porter against Gabriella Cox and Feanor Siaguru in the Women’s and Mens Open. 

Alarcos, Siaguru and Porter were also recognized as Professional Squash Association (PSA) players in numerous competitions overseas including the PSA World Oceania Championships in Australia.

“We have plans to continue our development program into existing squash clubs in Lae and Mt.Hagen, this follows after we saw good results in our social and Pom Open competitions. This year we also had a corporate squash competition which saw corporate organizations turn up to compete.”

Apart from the busy year of competitions, three individuals have gained WSF coached certificates following their training overseas, they are Ella Cox, the youngest member, Troy Siaguru and Imong Brooksbank, this bring the number of PNG squash coaches up to four after Alarcos received hers in 2023.

Meanwhile Lady Anna confirmed that she is now determined to focus on PNG squash pathway after years of service as Vice President in the Oceania Squash Federation board.

“I’m determined to work and focus on our juniors and the development pathway in PNG, hence I am longer part of the OSF executives, however overall as a federation we’re determined to expose more juniors in upcoming tournaments and prepare for what’s to come in 2025,” she added.