Two Canning brothers have returned from the Australian Junior Squash Championship in Victoria with strong results and a growing list of achievements.
Andreas Christou, 16, and his brother Domenic, 15, were joint recipients of the City of Canning’s recent Achievement Grant, which supports residents selected to represent Western Australia or Australia in their field. The funding helped the pair travel to Ballarat for the national competition.
Domenic placed third in the Under 15 Boys division, while Andreas finished ninth in the highly competitive Under 17 Boys division. Together, they helped Western Australia secure fourth place in the team event.
Their mother, Lisa, said the brothers have travelled to a different Australian city each year to compete and represent the State.
“We are very grateful to the City of Canning for its contribution towards the boys’ travel expenses,” she said. “It’s been a big help.”
Lisa said squash has always been part of the Christou family, with the boys beginning the sport at ages seven and six. Their younger sister Carmela, 13, also plays and represented WA last year.
“Squash has always been a family sport for us,” she said. “My mum, dad and brother also played, so it seems the boys have inherited the squash gene.”
She said the junior players enjoy representing WA not only for the competition, but also for the friendships and experiences that come with it.
To earn a place on the State team, juniors must meet strict criteria throughout the year, including competing in a set number of tournaments, attending squad training and performing well at the WA state titles.
This year, Domenic won the WA State Championships in the Under 15 Boys division, the West Coast Open (Junior Division 2) and the Leschenault Teams Event (A Division). He was also runner-up in the WA State Championships Under 17 Boys section and placed third in the WA Closed (Junior Division 1).
Andreas also had a standout year, winning the WA State Championships (Under 19 Boys), the Geraldton Open in both the Men’s Open and Junior Division 1, the West Coast Open in both the Men’s Open and Junior Division 1, the Leschenault Teams Event (A Division), and the WA Closed (Junior Division 1).
“We’re incredibly proud of both boys and their commitment to the sport, as well as the camaraderie and sportsmanship they continue to show within the WA squash community,” Lisa said. She added that the sport gives young players the chance to challenge themselves and learn from others.
Squash will be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, something she said has inspired the boys to continue developing their skills.
The City of Canning offers two rounds of community grants each year, supporting a range of local initiatives across nine categories. These include Small Grants, Volunteer Grants, Achievement Grants, Youth Projects, Disability Access and Inclusion Grants, Community and Cultural Events, Equipment Grants, Welcoming and Thriving Canning Projects, and the Aboriginal Engagement and Reconciliation Grant.
