Simpson could be at Birmingham 2022
CHRIS SIMPSON has not ruled out representing Guernsey in future despite retiring from professional squash.
The 32-year-old Guernseyman announced this week that he is stepping away from the PSA Tour and starting a new career as a financial planner in the new year, but he intends to keep playing at an amateur level.
Having played for Guernsey at four previous Commonwealth Games, he revealed that the opportunity to feature at Birmingham 2022 could prove tempting – but there are a couple of caveats.
‘One of the biggest things in my career in terms of improvement was the chance to go and play at Manchester 2022 as a 15-year-old. That was a great experience for me,’ Simpson said.
‘I wouldn’t want a place on the team now if it meant taking the opportunity away from a deserving upcoming talent, but if I was considered good enough then I would want to put a serious block of training in beforehand.
‘At that age, if I put nine months of work in to get ready, I think I could get up to a decent standard to compete as I’d like to.’
The hypothetical scenario of appearing at a home Island Games actually appealed more to Simpson, who won individual gold at his one previous Islands Games in Shetland 2005, but unfortunately squash is not on the list of sports for Guernsey 2021.
More in Thursday's Guernsey Press.
