South African Squash Serves Up a Weekend to Remember

Photo Credit: BLD Communications

The Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals showcased new champions, rising stars and plenty of competitive action in Cape Town.

Cape Town, South Africa (24 August 2026) – South African squash may not always get the biggest sporting spotlight, but there was plenty to celebrate at the Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals in Cape Town this weekend.

The championships at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront showcased some of the country’s best squash talent, with the senior and U15 competitions producing closely fought matches, emerging stars and a couple of new names on the national roll of honour.

In the senior finals, both matches went the distance, with Damian Groenewald and Hayley Ward eventually claiming the men’s and women’s titles. (Pictured above)

For Groenewald, it was a particularly special breakthrough. The 22-year-old Northerns player ended Dewald van Niekerk’s remarkable five-year reign after an exhausting five-game battle that went all the way to 14-12 in the decider.

Van Niekerk was chasing an unprecedented sixth consecutive Growthpoint Nationals title, but Groenewald showed plenty of resilience to keep himself in the contest when it looked like the opportunity might slip away.

He even had to survive a match point at 10-9 before eventually getting over the line.

The victory was made even more meaningful by the respect between the two players. Groenewald recalled losing to Van Niekerk in a five-game semifinal a few years ago, when the defending champion told him that his time would eventually come.

Ward also had a long-awaited breakthrough, finally getting her hands on the title after finishing runner-up in the previous two finals.

The Eastern Province top seed had to work for it against former champion Lizelle Muller, who showed that her experience still makes her a force to be reckoned with. The moment was an emotional one for Ward, who dedicated much of her journey in squash to her late mother, Gail, a former provincial player who died in 2023.

The championships also provided a glimpse at the next generation coming through.

In the U15 competitions, Chanel Leppan of Northerns claimed the girls’ title after a hard-fought encounter with Western Province’s Aakiefah Taliep, while Zayd Badroodien of Western Province emerged as the boys’ champion after finishing level on points with Rupert Good and Zander Smit.

Behind the trophies and titles are young South Africans putting in the hours, travelling to tournaments, learning from experienced opponents and steadily building the next chapter of the sport.