18 Year old aims for the World Championship!
Juee Bhide, the 18 year old athlete is New Zealand’s national level squash player, a physiotherapy student at Auckland University and is now eyeing for the U-19 World Championship in Netherlands this month. Indian Weekender speaks to the young athlete...
Since when are you playing Squash?
I used to play netball quite a lot and I was good at netball and also played for the school team but somewhere I knew that eventually I may not break into the big leagues. So my mum one day took me to the Mt Eden club, I watched the game and I liked it. I was 11 when I first took the racquet in my hand and started training under former World Champion Carol Owens.
Though I started relatively late, I practiced once in a week initially and then regularly, when I turned 12. I started to get more serious about it when I was awarded the Most Improved Junior Player in 2010, Most Improved Overall Female and Squash Excellence Awards by Squash Auckland.
What was your first breakthrough?
In Squash your performance is graded and you are given points that start from 100. A player starts with ‘J’ grade and that is less than 600 points, F grade in from 600 to 900 and so on until ‘A’ grade. So when you win games you get points added and if you lose those points are deducted. Right now I am at 2900 points and grade A2.
I got 1500 points in a year and that was in 2010, the same year I got the Squash Excellence Award and it caught the attention of the selectors. Also when I played the national level tournament I came 3rd and that was one breakthrough as well.
What are the milestones you have covered so far?
At the age of 14, I was selected in the U19 NZ squad, training for the 2013 World Junior Championships. Being selected into this elite programme with players higher graded and more experienced than me, I learnt to push myself outside of my comfort zone and become accustomed to continuous hard work. My most recent accomplishments have been:
Oct 2012: Placed 2nd in the U17 NZ Junior Nationals
June 2013: Played in Australia to compete in my first professional squash tournament where I achieved a world ranking of 164
July 2013: North Island U17 champion
Oct 2014: Selected in the 2014 U19 team to represent Auckland at the Junior Nationals.
June 2015: I was awarded AUT Significant Student Scholarship which takes care of my education fees for 3 years.
August 2013: I took part in ‘Shave for a Cure’; I shaved my head and raised $5700 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation.
How is the selection made for the World Championship?
There are 5 selection tournaments, all the selectors are watching you, there is so much pressure on each player and the competition is tough. I had to consistently play well in all the tournaments because that is the game that matters. In the New Zealand Squash Juniors U19 ranking I am at number 3.
On May 21st I received the best squash news from Squash NZ. I was named in New Zealand Squash team to represent the World Junior Championships in Netherlands in July 25, 2015 onwards.
How has been the support from your family?
Both my Mum and Dad have been an incredible support to me. My dad finishes his work early, drives me to the club in North Shore, stays there for as long as I am practicing and drives me back home. Not just that, he goes to all the matches that I play and since he knows the game. He tells me my weak points and where I need to improve. It is not just a moral support but he also acts like a coach at games.
Looking forward to...
5 years down the line, I am aiming to be among top 3 in the Senior World Ranking. But right now, I am practicing harder than before since World Championship is barely few weeks away. Fingers crossed!
Juee Bhide, the 18 year old athlete is New Zealand’s national level squash player, a physiotherapy student at Auckland University and is now eyeing for the U-19 World Championship in Netherlands this month. Indian Weekender speaks to the young athlete...
Since when are you playing Squash?
I...
Juee Bhide, the 18 year old athlete is New Zealand’s national level squash player, a physiotherapy student at Auckland University and is now eyeing for the U-19 World Championship in Netherlands this month. Indian Weekender speaks to the young athlete...
Since when are you playing Squash?
I used to play netball quite a lot and I was good at netball and also played for the school team but somewhere I knew that eventually I may not break into the big leagues. So my mum one day took me to the Mt Eden club, I watched the game and I liked it. I was 11 when I first took the racquet in my hand and started training under former World Champion Carol Owens.
Though I started relatively late, I practiced once in a week initially and then regularly, when I turned 12. I started to get more serious about it when I was awarded the Most Improved Junior Player in 2010, Most Improved Overall Female and Squash Excellence Awards by Squash Auckland.
What was your first breakthrough?
In Squash your performance is graded and you are given points that start from 100. A player starts with ‘J’ grade and that is less than 600 points, F grade in from 600 to 900 and so on until ‘A’ grade. So when you win games you get points added and if you lose those points are deducted. Right now I am at 2900 points and grade A2.
I got 1500 points in a year and that was in 2010, the same year I got the Squash Excellence Award and it caught the attention of the selectors. Also when I played the national level tournament I came 3rd and that was one breakthrough as well.
What are the milestones you have covered so far?
At the age of 14, I was selected in the U19 NZ squad, training for the 2013 World Junior Championships. Being selected into this elite programme with players higher graded and more experienced than me, I learnt to push myself outside of my comfort zone and become accustomed to continuous hard work. My most recent accomplishments have been:
Oct 2012: Placed 2nd in the U17 NZ Junior Nationals
June 2013: Played in Australia to compete in my first professional squash tournament where I achieved a world ranking of 164
July 2013: North Island U17 champion
Oct 2014: Selected in the 2014 U19 team to represent Auckland at the Junior Nationals.
June 2015: I was awarded AUT Significant Student Scholarship which takes care of my education fees for 3 years.
August 2013: I took part in ‘Shave for a Cure’; I shaved my head and raised $5700 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation.
How is the selection made for the World Championship?
There are 5 selection tournaments, all the selectors are watching you, there is so much pressure on each player and the competition is tough. I had to consistently play well in all the tournaments because that is the game that matters. In the New Zealand Squash Juniors U19 ranking I am at number 3.
On May 21st I received the best squash news from Squash NZ. I was named in New Zealand Squash team to represent the World Junior Championships in Netherlands in July 25, 2015 onwards.
How has been the support from your family?
Both my Mum and Dad have been an incredible support to me. My dad finishes his work early, drives me to the club in North Shore, stays there for as long as I am practicing and drives me back home. Not just that, he goes to all the matches that I play and since he knows the game. He tells me my weak points and where I need to improve. It is not just a moral support but he also acts like a coach at games.
Looking forward to...
5 years down the line, I am aiming to be among top 3 in the Senior World Ranking. But right now, I am practicing harder than before since World Championship is barely few weeks away. Fingers crossed!
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