Joanne Joseph is in Texas right now, proudly representing Australia at the World Junior Championships. With her talent and hard work, she has become an important competitor in this big event, carrying the hopes of her country.
Born into a family originally from Kerala, Joanne began her squash career at the age of 10, swiftly rising to captain the U19 team today.
Before departing for Houston for the World Junior Championships, Joanne shared her journey with The Indian Sun.
“The past six months have been focused on rigorous training with Squash Australia and the Victorian Institute of Sport. I’ve adhered to a strict regimen of diet, exercise, and practice, including professional tournaments in Victoria,” said Joanne, a Year 11 student at Bacchus Marsh Grammar School.
Introduced to squash by her father, Anil Joseph, Joanne’s early experiences on the court sparked a lifelong passion for the sport. Since her debut at the 2017 Australian Junior Championships, she has consistently excelled, contributing significantly to the Victorian state team’s resurgence, culminating in their first national championship win in 37 years in 2023.
Joanne has been a part of the Victorian state team since 2018, progressing through U13s, U15s, and U17s before assuming the role of U19 captain. Her journey includes winning her first overseas platinum event at the U17 Girls Oceania Junior Championships in 2023, a milestone she cherishes.
“I started travelling with the team when I was 11 years old and it has made me more independent and confident. More importantly, I have made many friends from my squash circuit travels both here and overseas,” she said.
Reflecting on her win at the Oceania Junior Championships, she expressed, “It will always hold a special place for me. Competing in New Zealand as part of the Trans-Tasman series and winning a championship abroad had been a lifelong aspiration.”
Following this victory, Joanne was honoured with the MC Hazel award, acknowledging her exceptional fairness, sportsmanship, player development, and outstanding match results.
“I was very proud to receive the award in 2023, knowing that my name is now engraved alongside some of the true legends of the game in Australia during their junior years.”
In 2023, Joanne focused intensely on improving all aspects of her game, from movement to strategy and mental toughness. Seeing tangible results motivated her to continue on this path towards professional squash.
Joanne has played at numerous venues throughout her career, but she holds the one in Birmingham for the Scottish and British Junior Open in high regard. The British Junior Open is a premier tournament in world junior squash, boasting over 900 participants across 4-5 venues.
“The venue in Birmingham is very prestigious with six high-quality glass courts and more than 200 spectator seats. Such large-scale events are rare in Australia and New Zealand, and it feels really special to play in front of so many people,” she said.
Joanne faced two challenging periods in her career. From ages 13 to 15, she lost crucial training time due to the Covid lockdown in Victoria, while players in other states continued. Returning to the circuit was challenging after falling behind in preparations.
In 2024, at 16 years old and as a U17 player for Australia, Joanne aimed to qualify for the U19 World Juniors. Competing in three international tournaments required intense training, navigating school commitments, and travel. She managed to secure a spot on the U19 girls’ team for the World Series.
Despite her young age, Joanne offers valuable lessons she applies herself: aiming early for national representation to set skill benchmarks, embracing failure as a learning opportunity while maintaining resilience in competitive play, and balancing academics and sports through year 12 for holistic development.
Her transformative training with coach Selena Shaikh, a former state and national player, has been pivotal. “Selena’s flexible approach to training has deepened my understanding of the game and enhanced my skills. Our sessions remain enjoyable and essential to my growth,” Joanne shared.
She extends gratitude to her junior coach, Richard Cagliarini, and supporters like the Melbourne Cricket Club, MCC Squash Club, Squash Australia, Head Australia, and Cassie Thomas for their unwavering support.
Importantly, Joanne credits her parents, who have been extremely supportive of her squash career. “They have always encouraged me to train and be good enough to represent Australia in international tournaments,” she affirmed.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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Joanne Joseph, from a Kerala-origin family, represents Australia in World Junior Squash. Starting at 10, she's now U19 captain, balancing rigorous training, international competitions, & academics. 🏆🇦🇺👐🏽🎓🌍 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/s89BOKvlpx
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