Four of the best in squash
IT was a watershed day for Australian squash at the Maccabiah Games with the Masters squad winning four individual gold medals.
DANIEL GARB
IT was a watershed day for Australian squash at the Maccabiah Games with the Masters squad winning four individual gold medals. Irwin Gordon, Dan Mossenson, David Alperstein and Anthony Shear all won the finals in their respective age groups to complete Australia’s most successful squash campaign since the 1993 games.
Alperstein, who doubles up as section manager, says the large haul made up for a disappointing teams event.
“We really didn’t do well in the teams, but to make up for it in the individuals competition like this is just fantastic,” he said. “The guys all pulled together and there was a terrific comararderie within the entire team which was just great to be a part of.”
Alperstein has now won three Maccabiah gold medals, but his first as an individual.
Irwin Gordon got the medal machine rolling with a tight 3-2 win over a feisty American opponent. Their game became heated when the Yank demanded a new referee in the fourth game after a disputed call.
But Gordon was able to get through the tense period and close out the match in the deciding game.
West Australian Dan Mossenson was next up, demolishing another American 11-2, 11-0, 11-1 in ruthless fashion for the Aussie’s second gold in front of his three children, who are all Maccabiah competitors, his wife and father. Alperstein made it three from three with a comfortable win over an Israeli.
While the youngest of the quartet, 35-year-old Anthony Shear from Perth, finished off the golden day with another 3-0 win.
Later in the day, Joel Iglicki added to the Masters squash medal tally with a bronze in the over 55’s division.
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