As today is International Women’s Day, we look at the women in Squash, who have achieved gold in Squash at the Commonwealth Games alongside a major squash title.
With the 2022 Commonwealth Games just months away, local favourite and current UK no.1 Sarah-Jane Perry will be looking to win gold on her home turf – plus Gina Kennedy (Bromley’s own Squash star) will too be seeking gold as well.
Even though Squash is not the Olympic Games (yet), the Commonwealth Games has been a vital platform in promoting Squash. Furthermore, the strong association between the two has produced major classic moments in the games from which the success of the participants has played a major part in their careers.
Commonwealth gold and major tour title double
So who are the women that have achieved gold at the Commonwealth Games, (whether it be in single or doubles category) and a major Squash championship title?
Nicol David (Malaysia)
As one Squash’s greatest players, Nicol David has won two individual Commonwealth Games titles consecutively 2010 and 2014 – in fact her 2010 success saw also win the World Open and Qatar Open titles too.
Nicol David
Ironically, Nicol made her pro-debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and played in both the individuals and doubles categories of the event. Furthermore, she is also one of many Squash players who have won titles both a junior and senior player.
Nicol David Commonwealth Games 2018 (CWGSquash.net)
Joelle King (New Zealand)
When it comes to Squash in New Zealand, Joelle King is one the country’s most successful Squash players when it comes to the Commonwealth Games, with a double success in claiming both the individual and doubles titles in 2018 games in Australia.
Photo credit: Stuff.nz
As for major titles, Joelle won the Australia Open in 2010 and won her first platinum event on the WSA tour at the 2018 Hong Kong Squash Open beating Raneem El Weleily (Egypt) 3–0 in the final.
Michelle Martin (Australia)
Michelle Martin – 1998 Squash Commonwealth Champion Credit: World Squash Federation
If you look up who’s who of Australia’s greatest female Squash players from the 1990s, Michelle is one of them. From 1993 to 1996, she was ranked number one in the world, and once again in 1998 and 1999.
In terms of success at the Commonwealth Games, Michelle was the women’s inaugural Squash Commonwealth Games champion and she won the mixed double title too with Craig Rowland.
Michelle has won three World Open titles and six British Open titles; plus she has won her home Squash tournament the Australia Open on 7 occasions (1991, 1993-96, 1998, and 1999).
Cassie Jackson (England)
Cassie is one of England’s greatest women’s squash players, throughout much of the 1990s and early 21st century. As a junior player, Cassie won five British under-23 titles, and then went on to win five senior British national titles, as a senior player.
Cassie Jackon (Photo credit: The Times of India Photogallery
She won gold in 1998 doubles title Squash with Sue Wright at 1998 Commonwealth Games, and who won the World Open in 1999.
Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Australia)
When it comes looking history of women’s Squash, the records rank Sarah Fitz-Gerald as one of greatest women’s players from the late 90’s and early 2000s.
Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Photo credit: India Times)
When it comes to title success at the Commonwealth games, Sarah won gold at 2002 games in Manchester.
She is also one of Australia’s greatest Squash players with record of 60 titles, which include five world open titles, 7 teams’ titles and four women’s Masters Squash titles – her last being in 2018.
Medal success at Commonwealth Games
When it comes to medal success at Commonwealth Games, some of the leading women’s Squash players have achieved silver and bronze medals and gone on to win major Squash titles (defeating the Commonwealth Games champion) and are a part of their success in the sport:
Laura Massaro (England)
Laura is one the greatest England’s Squash players, in fact, she is the best of her generation, and along with Nick Matthew both England back on the sporting scene in 2010s, with no.1 rankings and title success.
Laura medal haul features silver medals in her two appearances (2010 and 2014) at the Commonwealth Games in both singles and doubles categories. She is also multiple Squash champions, winning the British Open, Hong Kong Open, and Qatar Classic.
Jenny Duncalf (England)
Just like fellow Brit, Laura – Jenny is silver medallist from two Commonwealth Games appearances (2010 and 2014).
In terms of title success, Jenny title success includes 2010 Qatar Open, European Individual Championship title (2006, 2007), and two British National Championship titles (2007, 2009).
Tesni Evans (Wales)
Wales has strong legacy in Squash; in 2018 Cardiff, born Tesni made history in becoming the first Welsh player to land the prestigious British National Championship, and retained it the following year by defeating England’s Emily Whitlock 3-0 in the final, held in Nottingham.
Tesni Evans (Photo credit: Rhyl Journal)
In terms of Commonwealth success, Tesni rose to prominence in 2018 Commonwealth Games in winning her maiden medal in defeating defending Commonwealth Games champion Nicol David.
Tesni Evans v Nicol David (Commonwealth Games 2018)
This was a milestone major of Welsh squash, as Tesni earned the great nation’s first medal in squash events after 20 years since the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Final Thoughts
With all the strong positivity and awareness made in terms of coverage about the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, it seems that Squash is being the most talked event of the multi-sport tournament.
If you were, to predict which Commonwealth nation is going to win gold, well England could achieve gold in women and men’s categories, including mixed doubles.
Overall, the Commonwealth Games is going to help push Squash participation that extra percent to becoming a sport in the Olympics Games.
It may be a bold statement to make, but Birmingham is a multi-cultural city and has been known to be popular with world leaders when it comes to making policies that can shape the world, thus Squash is going to have to thank Birmingham should it be featured in 2024 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.
