Premier Sports 2 will carry live television coverage of the opening two rounds of the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open, which takes place from April 23 to 27.
The sports channel is available on Sky channel 419 and on Virgin Media channel 417. The final three days of action will be live-streamed free-to-view via Squash TV on YouTube.
Irish fans can enjoy live coverage of four back-to-back matches on show court 1 featuring Irish contenders Hannah Craig, Sean Conroy, Breanne Flynn, and Sam Buckley on the opening day of the competition. Fans will be hoping the home favourites can progress to round two, where Premier Sports 2 will once again show live coverage of the Irish interest.
The Cannon Kirk Gillen Markets Irish Squash Open takes place at Fitzwilliam LTC and is a highlight of the Irish Squash calendar with a $40,000 prize fund and a host of the world’s top players competing, including World Number 19 Nada Abbas from Squash powerhouse Egypt, and World Number 24 Emily Whitlock of Wales. The top-ranked man is World Number 34 Nick Wall of England.
Of the Irish players, Hannah Craig is top-ranked at number 92 in the World. She takes on the World number 108, Lea Barbeua of France in the first round for what should be compelling viewing. Top-ranked Irishman, Sam Buckley, ranked 134, will face a stiff test in his first-round draw as he takes on world number 87 Noor Zaman of Pakistan. The Dubliner will be hoping to find the form that saw him beat the World Number 65 at the World Team Championships back in December.
“Increasing the visibility of squash and the profile of our top players is high on our agenda, so I’m delighted that our marquee tournament, the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open, will be broadcast live on Premier Sports and Squash TV,” said Irish Squash CEO Scott Graham.
“Squash makes for compelling viewing thanks to the pace of the game and the skill, fitness, and agility of the players. I have no doubt that anyone who watches the coverage will instantly become fans of the game.”
“This promises to be a festival of squash with a wonderful blend of experience and youthful squash professionals all battling it out at the showpiece event of the Irish Squash season,” added Tournament Director Dara O’Flynn.
Sport for Business Perspective:
Squash in Ireland is on a steep upward curve with new initiatives to attract players and inclusion in the Olympics promising greater global visibility in LA in 2028. It is a great game to play and seeing it broadcast live is an opportunity to witness first hand how exciting it is.
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