POLOKWANE – At the age of 17, Mohale Malatji is already making a name for himself on the squash court in a sport he discovered almost by accident.

The Polokwane Squash Club standout first picked up a squash racket at the age of 14 after stumbling upon the sport while searching for a table tennis club. What began as a default choice quickly turned into a passion, and today Mohale is regarded as one of the club’s top performers.

Disciplined training fuels rapid progress

The Tom Naudé Technical High School learner maintains his competitive edge through disciplined training. He trains six times a week, allowing himself just one rest day, and complements his court sessions with long-distance running and ghosting to build fitness and endurance.

According to his coach and team manager, Michael Ward, Mohale consistently stands out against his peers. Ward believes the young athlete has a promising future and the potential to take on higher-ranked opponents as his career progresses.

Tournament wins build confidence

Mohale recalls winning more than 10 important tournaments so far, although a national title remains just out of reach. One of his most memorable moments, he says, was a dominant 3-0 victory at the Limpopo Club Championships recently in a match that remains especially close to his heart.

His long-term ambition is to turn professional and compete in Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournaments. He also plans to pursue higher education, either locally or abroad, to further develop his squash career.

Earlier this year, Mohale competed in the 2026 LimLanga Junior Open Tournament, hosted jointly by the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Squash Associations.

The event, held on January 24 at the Polokwane Squash Club, proved to be a learning experience. “It wasn’t my strongest performance, but it reminded me that setbacks are part of growth,” he said.

Offering advice to others, Mohale keeps it simple: “Go on court, have fun and start hitting the ball – the rest will follow.”

Ward added that tournaments like LimLanga are vital for young South African players, helping them gain experience, earn rankings points and compete within their age groups.

Top three results from the open tournament

u/11 boys
1. Tiago Serradinho.
2. Phenyo Peta.
3. Zander Grobler.

u/11 girls
1. Khadeejah Cassim.
2. Itumeleng Makwala.

u/13 boys
1. Cayden Kock.
2. Tiago Serradinho.3. Charles Malatji.

u/13 girls
1. Caria Van Den Heever.
2. Kalika Breetzke.
3. Robyn Coetzer.

u/15 boys
1. Tiaan Goosen.
2. Rheden Cordier.
3. Richter Myburgh.

u/17 boys
1. Tiaan Goosen.
2. Ebert Goosen.
3. Kobus Bouwer.

u/17 girls
1. Shannon Render.
2. Roxanne Bland.
3. Hannah-Ray Kritzinger.

u/19 boys
1. Hanro Grobler.
2. Robert Kritzinger.
3. Johan Venter.