Scott Galloway has been playing squash for so long, that he can barely remember when he started.

“I was about 3 or 4, just mucking around with Dad when I picked up a racket. I can only roughly remember it.

But I was used to just hanging round the courts with Mum and Dad.” Squash is in the blood for the 15-year-old Hutt Valley High student. His Dad, Matey, is a long time player and Mum, Sri, is a former Indonesia representative.

So it’s no surprise that Scott (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Koata) has been turning heads in squash circles since his first National Tournament at age seven when he came fourth in the National Champs in the Under 11 section. Since then he has amassed an impressive list of achievements both in New Zealand and Internationally. At nine he won his first national age group title.

“At the time, I was just happy to win something. Now I look back and think ‘Wow, I was very young to do that’,” Scott says.

In the last year he won the Australia Junior Series (under 17); the Scottish Junior Open and the coveted Wellington Junior Open; was runner up in New Zealand national under 19 championships and the Malaysian Junior Open.

And in October, he won the A Grade Section (both singles and doubles) at the New Zealand National Māori Championship in Christchurch.

Te Puni Kōkiri sponsored this event in line with support for National Māori sporting organisations. Henare Te Karu, from the organising committee, says it was the first time the 33-year-old tournament had been held in Te Waipounamu.

“We had players from six to our kaumātua at 75. Having players at all different levels is a big part of this tournament,” he says.

He said it was a pleasure to watch Scott, a player he has followed for several years, take out the senior title for the first time.

“He has a big future on the national and international circuit,” he says Meanwhile Scott is still focused on his long-held ambition to be a top player on the World circuit. He’s got a few years up his sleeve, saying male squash players tend to peak at around 26-years-old.

For now he’s putting his efforts into training and preparing for a number of international meets this year, culminating in the World Junior Championships in Namibia in August, where he will likely fill the #1 spot in the New Zealand team.

With training in both squash and fitness taking up hours each week, Scott admits he relies on his Dad to help him manage his life, and make sure enough time and effort is allocated towards studying for his NCEA. He also enjoys the odd game of cricket.

“It’s good to have another sport and I like playing cricket because it’s a team game and squash is such an individual sport,” Scott says.

SUPPORTING SPORTING SUCCESS

Te Puni Kōkiri supports national Māori sports organisations on a year-by-year basis through its Māori Potential Fund.

Te Puni Kōkiri Acting Deputy Secretary Relationships and Information Eruera Reedy said the support recognised the considerable health and social benefits Māori gained from organised sports.

“We also recognise that the whanaungatanga fostered through Māori sports organisations helps increase Māori participation in sports and can support athletes to reach their potential nationally and internationally,” Eruera says.

In the last year, sports initiatives Te Puni Kōkiri has supported include; Māori Basketball New Zealand; squash through sponsorship of the Ngā Hau e Whā National Māori Squash Tournament; and the Māori Sports Awards.

“We value participation at all levels including the coaches and administrators, whānau who take their kids (and other people’s kids!) to practices, who fundraise or play governance roles. Sporting success is built on collective participation and commitment,” Eruera says.