Austin Adarraga

Last updated

Austin Adarraga
Full nameAustin Adarraga Almirall
Country Australia / Spain
Born1965 (age 5758)
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Turned Pro1984
Retired1995
Highest ranking11 (May 1993)
Medal record
Men's squash
Representing Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1992 Johannesburg Singles

Austin Adarraga (born 1965), also known as Austin Adarraga Almirall, [1] [lower-alpha 1] is a former professional squash player for Spain. In May 1993, he reached the eleventh place on the international circuit, his best ranking. [2] He was Spanish champion four times between 1988 and 1994.

Adarraga was born Townsville, Queensland, to Spanish parents who emigrated to Australia. At the age of eleven, he was the Australian under-13 champion by beating Rodney Martin, a future world squash champion. In 1979, while spending the holidays with his uncle and aunt in Spain, he was a finalist in the first Spanish squash championship against Carlos Sainz, aged 16, a future world rally champion. [3]

At the age of seventeen, he was quarter-finalist in the World Junior Squash Championships representing Australia, bowing to Jansher Khan. He then joined the Australian Institute of Sport under the direction of Geoff Hunt. [1]

In 1985, he received a letter from the Spanish federation asking him to represent Spain at a European competition taking place in Barcelona [4] and chose to represent Spain in official competitions. In 1992, he achieved his best year by rising to the semi-finals of the world championship, only beaten by the Jansher Khan. [5] Adarraga retired from sport in 1995 and returned to Australia.[ citation needed ]

Notes

  1. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Adarragaand the second or maternal family name is Almirall.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squash (sport)</span> Racket sport

Squash is a racket-and-ball sport played by two or four players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow, rubber ball. The players alternate in striking the ball with their rackets onto the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court. The objective of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return. There are about 20 million people who play squash regularly world-wide in over 185 countries. The governing body of squash, the World Squash Federation (WSF), is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but the sport is not part of the Olympic Games, despite a number of applications. Supporters continue to lobby for its incorporation in the future Olympic program. The Professional Squash Association (PSA) organizes the pro tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jahangir Khan</span> Retired Pakistani squash player

Jahangir Khan is a former World No. 1 professional Pakistani squash player. He won the World Open title six times, and the British Open title ten times (1982–1991). Jahangir Khan is widely regarded as the greatest squash player of all time. From 1981 to 1986, Khan was unbeaten and during that time won 555 consecutive matches – the longest winning streak by any athlete in top-level professional sport as recorded by Guinness World Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrés Gimeno</span> Spanish tennis player (1937–2019)

Andrés Gimeno Tolaguera was a Spanish tennis player. His greatest achievement came in 1972, when he won the French Open and became the oldest first-time Grand Slam champion in the Open era at 34 years of age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jansher Khan</span> Pakistani squash player

Jansher Khan SI HI is a former professional Pakistani squash player. During his career, he won the World Open eight times, and the British Open six times. From 1990 until 1996, he remained unbeaten in 81 matches for consecutive six years. This longest-winning matches streak in Squash history was recorded by Guinness World Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Dittmar</span> Australian sports commentator

Chris Dittmar is an Australian sports commentator who was formerly the World No. 1-ranked men's squash player.

Rodney Martin is an Australian former professional squash player, who is best known for winning the 1991 World Open and becoming the first player to defeat Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan in the same event. After retiring as a player due to injury, he became a squash coach, working in Australia and the United States.

Del Harris is a former professional squash player from England.

Rodney James Eyles is a former professional squash player from Australia. He is best remembered for winning the World Open title in 1997.

Peter Marshall is a former professional squash player from England.

Mohibullah Khan is a former world squash champion from Pakistan. He was one of the game's leading players in the 1970s, reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 2. He was runner-up at the inaugural World Open in 1976, and at the British Open in 1976, losing on both occasions to Australia's Geoff Hunt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Open (squash)</span>

The U.S. Open (squash) is the most prestigious squash tournament in the United States, and one of the most significant in the world. It is a major international display of supreme talent in the sport, and showcases the top players from around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Matthew</span> British squash player

Nicholas MatthewOBE is a former English professional squash player who has won the two most prestigious tournaments in the professional game, the British Open and the World Open, three times each. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 1 in June 2010. His home club is Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club in Sheffield which has named 'The Nick Matthew Showcourt' after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Rowland</span> Australian squash player and coach

Craig Rowland is a squash coach and former professional squash player from Australia. As a player, he reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 7 in 1996. He won a gold medal in the mixed doubles at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, partnering Michelle Martin. Rowland was also runner-up in the men's doubles at the inaugural World Squash Federation World Doubles Squash Championships in 1997, partnering with Dan Jenson against winners Chris Walker-Mark Cairns of England. He is also a friend of cricketing legend Paul Hoffman.

Aamir Atlas Khan is a Pakistani professional squash player and recipient of Pakistan highest civil award. He is the nephew of former world champion, Jansher Khan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashif Shuja</span> New Zealand squash player

Kashif Shuja, is a New Zealand former professional squash player.

Squash is one of the most popular sports in Pakistan. Pakistan had hosted a number of international tournaments and has many professional training centers around the country. Pakistan reached its peak in the 1980s and 1990s during the reigns of Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan.Both players won many laurels for the country.Jansher Khan won the World Open eight times and the British Open six times. He was ranked number 1 in the world for six years. Jahangir Khan is easily the greatest professional squash player of all time with an unofficial record of having 555-game winning streak. Between 1950 and 1997, Pakistan amassed over 30 British Open titles, 14 World Open titles and many more PSA professional titles.

The 1995 PSA Men's Detjen World Open Squash Championship is the men's edition of the 1995 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in Nicosia in Cyprus from 6 November to 11 November 1995. Jansher Khan won his seventh World Open title, defeating Del Harris in the final.

The 1994 PSA Men's Ballantines World Open Squash Championship is the men's edition of the 1994 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in Barcelona in Spain from 9 September to 14 September 1994. Jansher Khan won his sixth World Open title, defeating Peter Marshall in the final.

The 1991 Hi-Tec British Open Championships was held at the Lambs Squash Club with the later stages being held at the Wembley Conference Centre from 12 to 22 April 1991.
Jahangir Khan won his tenth consecutive title defeating Jansher Khan in the final.
Jahangir was only seeded fourth because he had previously taken time off from competition through illness and exhaustion.
Jamie Hickcox and Austin Adarraga now represented Canada and Australia respectively.

Tristan Nancarrow is a former Australian professional squash player.

References

  1. 1 2 "Adarraga Family". adarraga.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  2. Austin Adarraga at Squash Info
  3. "Historia del Squash Español". theracketstore.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  4. "Historia del Squash Español". teleraqueta.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  5. "Golan Beats Barker In Spanish Breakthrough". psaworldtour.com. Professional Squash Association. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2018.