Squash - Colette Sultana debuts in Amsterdam

After having successfully reached a top 10 position in Europe in the Under 15 category, Colette Sultana moved up a grade to take part in the Dutch Junior Open, her first tournament in the Under 17 age group.

The Dutch Junior Open is considered to be one of the top junior tournaments in the world and every year attracts participation from around 400 of the best junior squash players from around the globe. The tournament is held at the Frans Otten Stadion in Amsterdam, a complex housing 21 squash courts

The Maltese junior champion managed to put in a solid performance and obtained very encouraging results, winning one match and closely losing four other matches, all against older players.

In her first match against Millie Pughe, the match went all the way to five games, with the English girl finally winning it 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9. Sultana had come close to a major upset since Pughe then went on to make it to the semi-finals and finished in 3rd place.

Next was an even tougher opponent, Denisa Peleskova, winner of the German Junior Open last April. Playing in the all-glass centre court, Sultana took the first game 11-9 but the Czech came back strongly to win the next three games 11-7, 11-8, 11-7.

In the third match, Colette lost the first game to Emily Caldwell of the USA 12-10 but then managed to turn the match in her favour, winning the next games 11-2, 11-5, 11-8.

Sultana was then unlucky to lose to Nikita Brant. The three games won by the Belgian all went to 10-10 ties with the final match score 14-12, 8-11, 12-10, 13-11.

Colette's last encounter was against another girl from the United States, Tara Harrington. The first two games were again tied but Harrington managed to win 12-10, 15-13, 11-1.

Accompanied by top Maltese professional squash player Bradley Hindle Deguara, who is based in the Netherlands, the Maltese Junior finished 28th from 47 participants.

Colette Sultana is a member of the MOC Centre of Excellence and is receiving support through the MOC Youth Athlete Scheme, Malta Squash and the Marsa Sports Club. Colette is sponsored by Wilson and coached by Paul Lake.