Emily Whitlock Wins 2nd British Junior Open, Hopes For Olympic Chance
by David Hood
Sheffield, Sunday 6th January 2013: Just hours before England’s top squash players, Nick Matthew and Laura Massaro step out at Queen’s Club, London on Sunday for their respective PSA World Series Finals, Macclesfield teenager Emily Whitlock laid down a marker for possible Olympic glory in 2020, when lifting her second British Junior Open Title in three years.
Whitlock, coached by her father and ex professional player Phil, is one of England’s most prodigious squash talents and added the under 19 years British Open to her under 17 years success in 2011 and the European Championship Medal she won in Portugal last April. Whitlock beat Egypt’s Nouran Gohar 11/8, 9/11, 11/4, 11/7 in 49 minutes in front a packed gallery at the Abbeydale Club, Sheffield.
As the momentum continues for squash to be recognised by the IOC with Olympic status in 2020, 18 year-old Emily is hopeful that the opportunity for a medal will come her way.
"It would be unbelievable to be able to play in an Olympics, I was mesmerised by it all in 2012 and I just hope that I can continue to make the progress required to succeed in the top tier of the professional game. I am now ranked 25 in the world and to continue to improve and try and win the Allam British Open, and the World Championships is also the long term target.
I watch England’s top players like Laura Massaro (world number 3) and Jenny Duncalf and I aspire to the success they are enjoying around the world now. I will only be 26 (years old) by the time of the Madrid Olympics, which is prime for a squash player and hopefully the best is still ahead of me.
It's a nice confidence boost at the start of the year, to lift another British Junior Title. It was a really competitive match against Nouran, she played really well and the crowd in Sheffield were fantastic. The noise after every rally and every point was just immense and it makes you raise your game. England Squash & Racketball have been unbelievably supportive as well, especially Keir Worth. They have included me within their elite training programme and this win is as much for them as anyone.”
Emily will now return to the WSA women’s tour, hoping to carry on the stellar season she enjoyed on the professional circuit in 2012, which has brought wins in both the Finish and Swiss Opens and the Madison Open in America in December, her next major event is the British National Championships in Manchester, 11-17 February.
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