In Deloraine, a young squash player is rapidly making a name for himself. Jarrod Atkins, a student and rising star in Australian squash, is not only celebrating recent victories but also dreaming big, with an eye on the Olympic Games.
Atkins first picked up a racquet at the age of 10 and has never looked back. Now 17, his enthusiasm for the game is as fierce as his competitive spirit. “I just enjoy the thrill of it,” he says. “It gets your heart pumping. It’s the adrenaline of it, the excitement as well as the skill and technical part of it. I enjoy the struggle of it, like the intensity of it. I just find it a good challenge”.
Letter to the Editor
That love for challenge has fuelled a series of notable achievements. In recent months, Atkins took out the under-19 title at the Tasmanian Junior Open—a milestone moment in his young career. “That was pretty exciting,” he tells us. His competitive schedule doesn’t slow down either. “I’m off to Melbourne for the Australian Junior Open. That’s my next big one.”. Earlier this year, he travelled to the UK with the Australian Junior Squad, competing in both the Scottish and British Junior Opens—an experience he described as “very exciting and a good experience”.
While his current focus is on junior tournaments, the long-term goal is clear: representing Australia at the Olympics. With squash recently confirmed for inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Games, Atkins sees a real opportunity. “Yes, it’s definitely a long-term dream. 2028, 2032—most likely 2032 would be an absolute dream of mine,” he says. He’s already laying the groundwork, training with the Tasmania Institute of Sport (TIS) and charting a path towards national selection.
Balancing intense training with school life isn’t easy, but Atkins takes it in stride. “It’s good fun. It’s very busy, it’s a lot to do, but yeah, it all gets fitted in somewhere,” he says. His training routine varies depending on the season and competition calendar, but he’s on court most days, sharpening both fitness and technique.
Among his most treasured memories is his debut representing Tasmania at the Australian Junior Championships. “Can’t beat that,” he says. “Representing my state was awesome. Probably the highlight so far. Hopefully look onto representing Australia at some point”.
A strong sense of place grounds Atkins, and he’s quick to praise the local facilities that helped shape his development. The newly built Deloraine Squash Centre stands out. “This is state of the art,” he beams. “It’s one of the top centres around anywhere Australia-wide. Nothing better than this to play on. They’re such nice courts”.
The new courts have also revitalised the local squash scene. “The influx of numbers playing here just since the new courts have opened up is ridiculous. We’ve got over 60 members playing in these current pennants, which is ridiculous for our small town,” he says.
Support from coaches, sponsors and the community has been vital to his journey. “There is a lot of support within the community, within the local squash clubs as well, and the state and governments,” Atkins notes. He’s open to further sponsorship, particularly to help cover the costs of interstate and international travel. “All the help is appreciated, specially the travelling—if we’re looking to go overseas, as much help as possible is much appreciated,” he adds.
For those inspired by his story and keen to get involved in squash, Atkins recommends Monday night pennants at the Deloraine centre. “If you get in contact with the Facebook page, there’s generally somebody out here. I’m here most days,” he says. With a welcoming local scene and world-class facilities, Deloraine may well be the starting ground for more young stars to follow.
