Mariza Ohlsson of Slovenia, the oldest participant in the WSF World Masters 2024, embodied the indomitable spirit of age group squash on day four at the Frans Otten Stadium.
The 81-year-old underwent surgery for a tumor in her ovary just three weeks ago, but she bravely stuck to her plan to travel from her home in Seattle, USA, to Amsterdam to take part in the women’s over-75 competition.
After finishing third at the 2018 World Masters 75+ competition in Charlottesville and fourth in Wroclaw in 2022, Ohlsson could not resist another attempt at the title despite recent personal setbacks.
She said: “I had originally decided to play the tournament and then have the operation, but I was in so much pain that I couldn’t wait. So I decided to have the operation first and see how I felt. Obviously, I’m fine because I’m here. I may not be at full fitness, but at least I’m here!”
Ohlsson, a No. 5/8 seed, lost 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 to Australia’s Margaret Hunt-Kemp on Sunday but has two more matches in the Women’s 75+ Group A on Monday and Tuesday.
Ohlsson was born in Slovenia and then immigrated to the United States with her mother. She now plays at the Seattle Athletic Club and at Squash Land in Ljubljana (the only wooden squash club in the world) when she returns home.
“I was on the operating table just three weeks ago, but the tumor is out now, so I’m incredibly happy to be playing here,” she said. “I started playing squash in my late 30s and have loved the game ever since. I’ve made wonderful friends for life.”
The top seeds in all 19 draws remain undefeated on Sunday, including the number 1 seeded South African man 70+, Johnny Orsmond, who defeated Canadian Rashid Aziz in a close match on the glass show court with 10-12, 11-9, 12-10 and 11-5.
The 70-year-old was taking part in his seventh World Masters and was cheered on by the large Springbok team that had travelled to the Dutch capital.
“I haven’t played for six years, so the pressure to come in as the top seed is pretty big,” said Orsmond, who only started playing again three months ago after a serious knee injury. “I don’t think I would have come back without them (his friends in Pretoria and the South African fans).”
Lauren Wagner, the top-seeded Canadian player in the women’s 55+, also got off to a winning start with an 11-7, 11-3, 11-1 win over 17th/32nd-seeded German Störte Becker, showing powerful groundstrokes and graceful movements.
Wagner won the women’s over-50 world title in Charlottesville in 2018 as an unknown unseeded player, having just returned to the game after a 12-year break following the birth of her children. She did not compete in Wroclaw in 2022 but is determined to win a second World Masters title.
“I feel a lot more pressure than at my last World Championships, where nobody knew me,” she said. “I’m pretty strong mentally, but of course everyone wants to beat me now! I’ve always been pretty fit and have been playing three times a week and following a squash-specific training program, as well as cycling and trail running.”
Brian Cook’s bid to make squash history at the Masters remains on track after the Australian beat England’s Michael Hoy 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 in the men’s 75+. Scotland’s Alex Sinclair (5/8) is Cook’s quarter-final obstacle on the way to a potentially record-breaking seventh World Masters title. Geoff Davenport, the other active player with five titles, had a rest day today but will face South Africa’s Stan Voges in the fourth round of the men’s 65+ on Monday.
The 2024 WSF World Masters Championships will continue with day five on Monday, August 19, with matches starting at 10:00 a.m. local time (CEST).
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The WSF World Masters Squash Championships 2024 will take place from 15 to 22 August at the Frans Otten Stadium. Stay up to date with all the action on wsfworldmasters2024.nl.
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