SQUASH PLAYER MAKIN MAKES THE TOP 50
ABERDARE’S Joel Makin has broken into the top 50 in the world squash rankings for the first time.
A run of good results from the talented 22-yearold has seen him reach world No 47.
His most recent success came when he won the Kent Open in Maidstone, beating England’s Josh Masters 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 in the final.
Makin said afterwards: “I’ve had a good season, and it was nice to finish it with a win.”
The Welsh national champion is now taking a summer break until September, when he hopes good performances in tournaments in France and Holland will lift him further up the world rankings.
The former Birmingham University student joined the Professional Squash Association World Tour in 2013.
He was ranked outside the top 400 then, but won his first world tour title in Australia in 2015 and continues to make rapid progress.
Although born in Pembrokeshire, he is a former pupil of Aberdare’s St John Baptist Church in Wales School and regards Aberdare as his home town.
He says the greatest influences in his life have been his parents, Richard and Claire.