Written by Emily, Year 12
I entered the GU19 category for the British Junior Squash Championships, competing against the best 32 girls in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. I was motivated to enter the age group above to give myself a challenge and push to play at the highest level of my game.
I had a very difficult draw, so I knew I had to play my very best to get victories. I ensured that my mental and physical preparation was the best it could be for each match. I had to play on an unfamiliar, difficult court in important matches and had limited time to have a hit on it before my games, putting me at a disadvantage. But, I had to accept this and put trust in my training that had led up to this tournament.
Competing in high-pressure tournaments has led to me developing a lot of resilience, which enabled me to keep pushing through during physically and mentally challenging parts of the tournament. I managed to get a Bronze Medal- a podium finish, which has marked a big milestone for me.
To any young athletes out there, I would strongly encourage you to ensure you incorporate mental exercises into your training, and not just physical, to help you play at your highest ability and have the strongest mindset going into tournaments!
