Local Heroes Put Up a Gallant Fight—And Some Wild Twists!

Day 1: 2025 Swarmer SA Open

Local Heroes Put Up a Gallant Fight—And Some Wild Twists!

It was a night of thrills, spills, and a touch of class at Next Gen!

The Underdog Story: Kathy Conquorgood from Campbelltown Squash Club stepped onto the court with grit, determination, and a wild card entry into the women’s draw. Facing 22-year-old Sydney dynamo Sze Yu Lee, Kathy held her ground in an electrifying battle but ultimately went down in three straight games. It was her first-ever PSA match—at age 55! We thought she might have set a record… until Google informed us that Margaret Armstrong, at 86, holds that title. So, any 87-year-old ladies fancy making history next year?

Homegrown Entertainment: Jason Mudge, another wild card warrior and Next Generation Squash Club’s local hero, put on a show for the ages. Although Ming Hong Tang from Hong Kong proved too strong, Jason—at 53 years young—drew the biggest crowd of the night, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Drama, Injury, and a Heroic Comeback: Australia’s highest-seeded men’s player, Rhys Dowling, was on the verge of a clean 3-0 victory when disaster struck—an awkward dive in the back left corner dislocated his shoulder. But wait! Enter Kathy Conquorgood, who wasn’t done being the hero of the night. The physiotherapist extraordinaire popped his shoulder back in like a true squash battlefield medic. Rhys fought on, but the injury proved too much, and the match slipped away 3-2.

A Legendary Performance: Just when you thought the night couldn’t get better, former world #1, Rachael Grinham made magic happen! Facing Melbourne’s rising star, 18-year-old Amelie Guziac, Rachael played with a finesse that reminded everyone why she once ruled the squash court. A commanding 3-0 win, but full credit to Amelie for making her work for it! Next up, Rachael takes on 19-year-old Akari Midorikawa from Japan—tonight at 6:30 PM.

More Matches Incoming! SA’s Rema Muniandy had a first-round bye and today faces her good mate Pascale Louka from WA in what promises to be a cracker of a match.

So, what are you waiting for? Get off the couch and come down to Next Gen, Memorial Drive from 2:30 PM today! You never know what drama, heroics, or history-making moments you might witness next.