Squash junior finishes strong in European tour

By JAMIE HARO
YOUNG Papua New Guinean squash star Timonaliz Alarcos-Kriebisch is growing from strength to strength in her European tour after finishing the Under-13 girls runner-up at the 2024 Portuguese Junior Open in Matosinhos, Portugal.
This was the 12-year-old’s second tournament in Europe following her first at the 2024 Italy Junior Open in Riccione, Italy where she finished ninth in the U13 division.
Kriebisch’s progress into the finals at Matosinhos was an expectedly tough journey as she faced some of Europe’s best in that age group. She lost her match against her Japanese opponent Emily Senior in three sets (4-11, 5-11, 6-11) in the U13 Girls finals.
Kriebisch finished second in group B matches after facing Senior as well as Nerea Sastre of Spain and Portugal’s Caroline Faria.
She went on to contest in the top four against Spain’s Mara Prieto Marino and defeated her to advance to the finals where she lost to Senior.
Her tour within the European Squash Federation-sanctioned events and results have been in part through the support of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited, the Port Moresby Squash and Racquets Club, Queensland’s Daisy Hill Squash Club and the PNG Squash and Racquets Federation.
PNGSRF president Lady Anna Togolo said Kriebisch’s development had been harnessed by involvement in the local scene in Port Moresby.
“It’s an example of good solid junior training in younger years at Port Moresby Racquets Club,” she said.
“She now has the opportunity to go to the next level with experienced coaches, facilities and more competitions.
“We wish all our juniors could have more access to these experiences because they are the future.”
Kriebisch, who trains under coach Bradley Hindle at the Daisy Hill Squash and Racquets Club, is impressing on her European experience and this is a result of her commitment to the sport and the support of her parents who have travelled with her to the tournaments in Italy and Portugal.
She is set to compete at more tournaments before she returns to Australia to prepare for the Trans-Tasman competition.