Temwa Chileshe wins PSA City of Greater Shepparton International in Australia

July 08 2023

Temwa Chileshe won the first PSA Challenger Tour title of his career with an impressive 60-minute 12-10 11-6 12-10 victory over World Junior Champion Rowan Damming of the Netherlands in the final of the PSA City of Greater Shepparton International in Australia.

The two finalists had met two weeks earlier at the PSA Harcourts KDRE Morrinsville Open where the Dutchman beat the New Zealander in a close four-game semi-final victory.

However, at the Shepparton Squash Centre the New Zealand World No.114 demonstrated remarkable poise under pressure to close-out a tense and hard-fought victory. In a display of steely resolve, Temwa emerged victorious in straight games over the World No.85 by clinching tie-breaks in both the opening and third games which saw the Kiwi win the title without dropping a game in the tournament.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) City of Greater Shepparton International 2023, Shepparton Squash Centre, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
Final:
[2] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt. [1] Rowan Damming (NED) 12-10, 11-6 12-10 (60m)

Semi-Finals:
[1] Rowan Damming (NED) bt [3] Ravindu Laksiri (SRI) 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (28m)
[2] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [4] Laouenan Loaëc (FRA) 11-8, 11-1, 11-6 (36m)

Quarter-Finals:
[1] Rowan Damming (NED) bt [6] Joel Arscott (NZL) 5-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (50m)
[3] Ravindu Laksiri (SRI) bt [WC] Benjamin Ratcliffe (AUS) 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-2 (53m)
[4] Laouenan Loaëc (FRA) bt [7] Theis Houlberg (DEN) 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5 (41m)
[2] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [8] Brice Nicolas (FRA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (42m)

1st Round:
[1] Rowan Damming (NED) bt Shota Yasunari (JPN) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (32m)
[6] Joel Arscott (NZL) bt Amir Amirul (MAS) 8-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-4, 11-4 (49m)
[WC] Benjamin Ratcliffe (AUS) bt [5] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) 11-8, 11-3, 11-5
[3] Ravindu Laksiri (SRI) bt Shamil Wakeel (SRI) 11-3, 11-6, 11-9
[4] Laouenan Loaëc (FRA) bt James Lloyd (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5 (41m)
[7] Theis Houlberg (DEN) bt Dylan Molinaro (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6
[8] Brice Nicolas (FRA) bt Mohamed Gohar (EGY) 11-8, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5 (64m)
[2] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt Baptiste Bouin (FRA) 14-12, 11-1, 11-9 (37m)

UNSQUASHABLE player Temwa Chileshe of New Zealand will face World Junior Champion Rowan Damming of the Netherlands in the final of the PSA City of Greater Shepparton International in Australia.

The young Kiwi has enjoyed an impressive tournament to date, reaching the final with successive straight-game victories over French opponents. The 2nd seed defeated Baptiste Bouin 14-12 11-1 11-9 in his opening match, followed by an 11-8 11-6 11-9 quarter-final victory over Brice Nicolas and an 11-8 11-1 11-6 win in the semi-finals over Laouenan Loaëc.