The BVI Squash Rackets Association (BVISRA) is set to host the Nagico & Interpath Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association Championships 2024 (Junior CASA) at the Tortola Sports Club (TSC).
This prestigious event, considered the Caribbean’s flagship junior squash tournament, will run from June 30 to July 6, 2024, and is expected to feature approximately 150 contestants from seven different islands and territories, including from Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
In an interview with 284 Media, BVI National Squash Coach Adam Murrills highlighted the significance of the BVI hosting this event for the first time since 2007.
Murrills provided insights into the 14-member BVI team, the largest squad ever to represent the territory at Junior CASA.
The team includes Oliver Henderson, Danny Henderson, Zevieh Abraham, Ethan Mohamed, Lilly Smit, Joshua Noblett, Jakob Noblett, Zivon Abraham, Rylan Smit, Emily Jackson, Ashton Starkey, Devon Mellor, Delilah Pease and Leela Mellor.
The championships will include singles, doubles, and team competitions, promising a comprehensive showcase of junior squash talent.
Murrills emphasized the tournament’s role in diversifying the BVI’s tourism product, noting that it is expected to draw over 200 visitors to the territory. This influx of visitors will provide substantial revenue opportunities for local hotels, taxis, and vendors.
Over the past five years, Coach Murrills has spearheaded efforts to develop a thriving junior squash program in the BVI, with 50-60 young players participating in weekly sessions through various initiatives, including the Youth Empowerment Program.
The BVISRA anticipates that hosting the championships, alongside the introduction of squash in the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics, will significantly bolster the sport’s development in the territory.