Ace returns after sabbatical

Pa i s l ey’s Kevin Moran is set to return to the gruelling world of squash’s professional tour after a sabbatical following the 2014 Commonwe a l t h Games in Glasgow.

The 2 6 - y e a r- o l d received a massive boost at the tail end of 2016, winning the Boston Open in Lincolnshire, and is now looking to combine competing again on the PSA (Professional Squash Association) world circuit with his coaching role at Scottish Squash.

The former St Mirren youth team footballer openly admits he found his love for competitive action waver after participating in the 2014 Games having joined the world circuit in 2009. I worked for about eight years to get into the Commonwealth Games,” Moran said this week.

“It’s such a big build-up to a massive event and I just realised that I needed to take a break from the tour. You are basically living out of a suitcase.

“Coaching has been really enjoyable since then, however.

“Instead of seeing the sport in the light of ‘ you have to win, everything is about winning,’ I now really appreciate the tactical side of things and how you approach the game.

“I am beginning to transition into a life where I spend half my time training and half my time coaching.

“Getting the balance is quite tricky but my next goal is to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and to try and medal at it.”

Moran, part of the Scotland side which secured a bronze medal at the 2016 European Team Championships, believes squash in the country has received a boost since 2014 and he’s determined to help continue to grow the game in his role at Scottish Squash.

He continued: “Since 2014 I’ve worked at grassroots level, going into schools to convince kids to play and join their local clubs.

“I do think that the Commonwealth Games really helped us. That kind of exposure in Scotland was really important.

“The 2014 Games saw six new squash courts built in the country, the first of their kind since the 1970s.

“So we are starting to grow again as a sport, following a fall in the 80s and 90s.”