The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Montrose squash player looks for Games boost
SQUASH: Montrose star determined to land first Scottish title since 2010
Gold Coast-bound Montrose squash player Lisa Aitken aims to win her second Sterling Trucks Scottish National Championships at Edinburgh Sports Club this weekend following her selection for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The 28-year-old’s only national title came eight years ago, the same year she competed in the Commonwealth Games at Delhi.
She said: “It is my first Nationals for a few years and something that is on the list which I would love to win again.
“Going by the PSA World Rankings I am number one in Scotland.
“But until you actually have that title, you don’t really feel like you are. I am looking to secure that and get back to being Scotland’s number one in my own mind.
“It’s a really good tournament to play in and means a lot to all of us.
“All the girls and guys love playing it and trying to be the number one in your country.
“With the European Team Championships coming up later this year, to lead the girls out as number one would fill me with pride.”
Aitken joined her Commonwealth Games team mates in Dunblane last week as athletes and staff for Team Scotland 2018 gathered for the final camp before the Games.
She said: “Being at the launch with the rest of Team Scotland last week felt like I was preparing for my first Commonwealth Games because so much has happened in that time. I had so much time off it feels that my own career is just kicking off now.
“It has that freshness and exciting feel about it and I’m really looking forward to it.
“In terms of training it won’t change much in that I have been training in the hope I would earn selection. But training and competition will have that extra edge now that it has been announced.
“I am fully motivated to play in all three events and really look forward to competing in the doubles with Kevin (Moran) and Ally (Thomson).
“Ally and I work well together and have had a couple of good wins which has enabled us to go to the Gold Coast as a pairing. The partnership with Kevin is fairly new but we have done really well in the time we have had.”
Until you actually have that title you don’t really feel like you are Scotland No 1. I am looking to secure that. LISA AITKEN