The winners of the European Junior U19 Team Squash Championships earlier this month in Germering, Germany, have all put their names to the Squash 2016 bid, citing winning at the Olympic Games as the greatest sporting achievement imaginable.
Second-seeded team Germany shocked the crowds by beating England, seeded number one and Championship favourites. This was the second time in four years that Germany has won the European Squash Federation title. The individual element of the Championships was a different story with England clinching both the men’s and women’s titles.
Sarah-Jane Perry, the individual female title winner, said: “In 2016 I’ll be 26, which would be the perfect age for me to compete in the Olympics. I really hope that this dream can be achieved and squash gets a chance to show what an amazing and diverse sport it is."
Men's individual champion Anthony Graham added: “By 2016 I’ll be 26 when I should be at the peak of my squash career. Being the U19’s European champion is fantastic and I now can’t wait to make my mark on the senior circuit. My biggest ambition would be to get an Olympic medal, it’s the ultimate goal and nothing else could come close.”
Raphael Kandra, winner of the Bronze Medal in the individual competition and representing the winning German team, said: “I know I speak for all my team mates when I say that as athletes, the chance to compete in the Olympics would be a great goal for us all. As U19 champions we now have some idea of how good victory feels, but the chance to win an Olympic medal for Germany would be incredible. We should all be at the top of our game in 2016 and the perfect age to compete; I only hope we get the chance to achieve this.”
For bid information please visit www.squash2016.info