Year 8 student Sarbani Maitra from St John’s Anglican College has taken home two more state titles in recent QLD and NSW state squash competitions this year.
She competed at the Queensland State Titles 2022 in Nerang from June 27 – July 3, where she won the Under 17 Title and Runner Up in the U15 category.
She was also awarded the prestigious Rachael Grinham Eagle Award for the second time since 2020 by Rachael Grinham herself, who is one of the flag bearers for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“In the Under 17’s category I didn’t really expect to make it past semis, but I won my semi-final match 3-0, which is the best way you can win,” Sarbani said.
“I went on to play my best friend in the finals match … I won in four sets against her, and I didn’t expect it at all.”
Her outstanding performance at the QLD State Titles 2022 secured her a place with the QLD Sharks mixed team for U15s, where she will compete in a national team event held in Perth in September.
On July 9-10, Sarbani went on to compete in the NSW State Titles in Coffs Harbour where she won the Under 15 NSW State Title 2022, bringing her count of Qld State titles to six and NSW State titles to two.
Sarbani has earned a long list of achievements both through club competitions and school-based Met West competitions since 2018.
She was named the Queensland School Sports Squash Champion for Under 15 Girls in both 2021 and 2022 representing Met West within the Secondary School Sports framework.
In 2018 she placed 2nd in the club State Championships, 3rd in the Under 11’s Australian Junior Championships, and 2nd at her first international competition in Scotland.
In 2019 Sarbani placed 3rd in the Oceania Junior Championships in Auckland, 4th in the Australian Junior Opens in Sydney, 1st at the Queensland Junior Championships and 1st in the Australian Junior Championships for Under 11’s.
In 2020 she won the Queensland State Titles and the Rachel Grinham Trophy as the most promising female junior. She also came 1st at the Australian Junior Championships.
She was also the runner-up at the Australian Junior Open 2022 Bendigo competition.
Sarbani takes squash lessons with her coach Robyn Prentice, who has been a very successful squash player and well loved coach to many.
She hopes to be able to represent Australia at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games in Squash if the sport is included at the Games.
