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Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is full focus for Inverness squash star


By Will Clark

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GREG Lobban says everything he does in 2021 will be to ensure his place in the Scotland squad for the Commonwealth Games next year.

Greg Lobban
Greg Lobban

The North Kessock athlete, along with Munlochy’s Alan Clyne, were competing against England last month in doubles test matches, with the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games now firmly on the radar.

At the 2018 games held in Gold Coast, Australia, Lobban and Clyne narrowly missed out on a doubles medal, finishing fourth in the men’s event.

The pair were crowned WSF World Doubles Champions back in 2016, and Clyne said a podium finish in Birmingham next year is now a big target.

“The Commonwealth Games is the biggest tournament for us and of high importance for the squad over the next 12 months,” said Lobban.

“Its not that far away, and anything I do this year will be building towards that.

“I’ve always enjoyed doubles and it was great to get some practise matches against England in Manchester. Hopefully we can do well in Birmingham next year.”

The former Fortrose Academy pupils return to familiar surroundings later this month when the PSA World Tour resumes in Cairo, Egypt.

Clyne and Lobban are competing at the 2021 CIB Black Ball Squash Open, which starts today.

The 2020 tournament was held in December and the latest edition is the first PSA World Tour event to be staged this year.

World number 21 Lobban has been drawn against India’s Ramit Tandon (56) while Clyne (38) faces Spain’s Borja Golan (25) in the first round.

“It’s brilliant the PSA are managing to get some tournaments on again,” said Lobban,

“We knew after the last Black Ball Open that it would probably be a while until we are back on tour.

“So I put some plans in place training wise, with March the hope for competing again.

“That’s the way it has turned out thankfully and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”

He added: “There’s been plenty of good training opportunities so far this year, which is not normally the case during the season.

“Being allowed to train with our athlete exemption at this time has been good. I’m really grateful.”


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