Scottish Number One Alan Clyne Relishing World Championship Challenge
by Nathan Clarke
 
October 21, 2013 - Scottish number one Alan Clyne says he is relishing the prospect of competing in the 2013 AJ Bell World Squash Championship in Manchester, England on October 28 - November 3.

The World Championship will see the best squash players from around the world converge in Manchester less than a year before the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and Clyne says the opportunity to compete in two major tournaments on home soil is the stuff of dreams.
 
"Having the World Championship in Britain is huge for all of the British players especially with the Commonwealth Games coming up in 2014 as well," said Clyne, who will face a qualifier in his first round game at World Championship on Monday October 28.

"To have a World Championships and then the Commonwealth Games at home within 12 months is an amazing opportunity for us and a great opportunity for the sport here as well and I'm really looking forward to both competitions and hopefully putting myself in the frame for honours.

"The Commonwealth Games especially is the pinnacle of the sport for me so to compete in that tournament, at home, in front of friends and family, will be a real honour."

Clyne recently progressed to the second round of the 2013 US Open in Philadelphia where he lost out to Egyptian World Number 6 Mohamed Elshorbagy but Clyne says he remains focused on performing at his best at home over what will be a massive 12 months.

"I'm really looking forward to the World Championship but the Commonwealth Games has really been the focus of my attention for the last four years since Delhi," he said.

"The World Championships is a great opportunity for me to really test myself against the best in the World and get myself up there to that next level and hopefully I can perform well there and begin building towards the Commonwealth Games.

"The next 12 months are huge for me and I'm fully focused on ensuring I deliver on my hopes in both tournaments and especially focusing on my medal aspirations in Glasgow."