Squash: Hawkes guns for Delhi squash medal

Jaclyn Hawkes aims to break into the world top 10. Photo / Greg Bowker

When you think about it, there was never much chance of Jaclyn Hawkes' sporting pursuit not involving a racquet.

After all, her father, Richard, played Davis Cup tennis for New Zealand and her mother, Julie, is a former national squash representative. It is in the genes.

Hawkes, ranked No 14 in the world, is New Zealand's leading squash hope at the Commonwealth Games when singles play gets under way today. She is ranked No 7 in the Games field and reckoned this to be "the biggest event I've been to".

Since the retirement of Dame Susan Devoy, who dominated the world of women's squash for several years two decades ago, others have tried to emulate her success.

Hawkes is the latest and believes at 27 her best years are ahead of her.

"They always say that around 28 to 32 is the peak for women's squash and I definitely feel like I'm getting into peak physical condition," she said.

"It's a mindset isn't it. People think 'I'm too old to change that', but in reality you can do whatever you want."

Hawkes is a smart cookie, has degrees in law and marketing from Otago University, was raised in Hong Kong, and now lives most of the year in Harrogate, Yorkshire, which is something of a hub of women's squash.

She is also on the board of Wispa, the world women's organisation.

It all adds up to an interesting life, but Hawkes' immediate challenge is to get above that 10-20 ranking bracket, where she's been for a while now.

Malaysia's Nicol David, is by some distance the world's best player and will be overwhelming favourite in the singles final in New Delhi. But Hawkes has form against others in the top echelon.

"It's definitely a frustration," she said of her inability to break that top 10 barrier. "You have to beat one level to get into the top 20, but another to make the top 10. I have beaten a few of the top 10 players but it's about getting a consistency."

She had made changes to her game which she hoped would bear fruit this week.

Hawkes starts her campaign against Australian Amelia Pittock, while Joelle King, world No 20 and her doubles partner, plays a qualifier.

Of the two New Zealand men, 15th-ranked Martin Knight plays Hardeep Reel of Kenya, and No 16 seed Campbell Grayson plays Zambia's Ray Zimbule.

But doubles is where New Zealand hope to make their mark in New Delhi.

Shelley Kitchen and Tamsyn Leevey won silver in the combined discipline at Melbourne four years ago, but Kitchen is out through illness. That has forced a rejigging of lineups.

So Hawkes and King, the two best individuals, will pair up, and while they have not spent much time on court together, Hawkes is confident they can make an impact.

"I really enjoy it, but some countries don't like it and get intotheir mind that they don't like playing it, so don't work on it. We've said this is our chance to get in and get medals. If everyone else doesn't like it, who cares," she added.