Duminy's brother aims to make his mark on a different pitch | More sports news

CHENNAI: Among the many South Africans competing in the world junior squash championships, a 15-year-old from Cape Town has attracted a lot of attention. While Jacques Duminy, the player in question, could not go beyond the first round, it all had to do with his familiar nickname and the fact that he is the half-brother of the South African cricketer JP Duminy.

It is therefore not surprising that the youngster played squash and cricket at the junior level. And like many young people who play multiple sports, he is seriously considering the way forward. "I started playing squash at the age of 10, my dad played a little squash and I integrated him, but I'm just as good at both sports, can -be a little more talented in squash. I'm concentrating on squash right now, I've taken a break from cricket this year, I'm going back to cricket next year and play a little more, "said Jacques on Friday.

As JP's half-brother, who recently retired from Tests, it's hard to avoid the curiosity that he attracts from time to time. But there are also benefits, like meeting big names in South Africa, including Dale Steyn and Mark Boucher.

"Wherever I go, I'm asked questions about JP, I do not mind talking about him, I met a lot of South African players, I met Steyn, Boucher, Robin Peterson and many But my favorite cricketer is Kumar Sangakkara from Sri Lanka. "

However, according to Jacques, the popularity of AB de Villiers not only in South Africa but throughout the world easily overshadows the rest.
"JP is relatively popular, but it's not like AB de Villiers: everywhere AB goes, we sing" AB, AB "When AB comes to India too, it's just mbadive."

If Jacques has his own models in the various sports disciplines of South Africa, he is also extremely aware for someone so young of the problems that beset the sport in the country.

"Racial quotas are a big problem in the country: squash has not yet been affected, but it is present in other sports: South Africa being the only country in the world. South Africa, you have to have some players in a team, should just be based on performance and pure merit, "said young Duminy, who plays as a cricketer.

These are not problems that Jacques discusses with his elder brother, preferring to talk about other things instead.

"We are relatively close, JP always says it's up to me to decide if I'm going to take cricket seriously, if I do not talk a lot about sports, he just wants me to take advantage of all that I probably do a necessary conversation, he talks a lot about Christianity and tries to motivate me, "added Jacques.