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Cap call for Jamie would be some-Finn else


By Will Clark

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Jamie Henderson turned professional five years ago.
Jamie Henderson turned professional five years ago.

THURSO squash professional Jamie Henderson is looking to establish himself in the Scotland squad to play in the European Squash Team Championships in Finland in April.

The 23-year-old is working towards a successful two months during which he hopes to have done enough to earn his place in the national team that travels to the competition in Helsinki.

Ranked number seven in Scotland, he needs to push himself into the top six to be in contention for a place in the national team.

He said: “My main priority is to get selected for the national team going to the European Championships.

“I am competing at Glasgow and then I have to choose between competing at an PSA event in either Aberdeen or Amsterdam.

“I am ranked seventh and I have to be in the top six to be considered for the squad, so it is something that I’m going to have to work really hard towards.

“I will find out around the middle of March if I have done enough.”

A niggling leg injury which dogged him for the second half of last year has seen Henderson slip down the world rankings to 352.

But he is now fighting fit and he improved his chances of making the national team with a decent showing at the British National Championships in Manchester last week by reaching the third qualifying round.

He caused a major upset in the second round when he scored a three sets to one win over England‘s Robert Dadds, who is 117 places above him in the world rankings. He was knocked out in the next round by world number 148 George Parker.

Overall he was pleased with his performance in the event.

“I felt that I played well and reached where I thought I would be able to get to,” he reflected.

“The second qualifying round win was quite pleasing as I caused an upset. Beating a guy that I was over 100 places below in the rankings is always quite cool to do.

“In the third qualifying round, I could’ve played a lot better. I lost as my opponent managed to spot some weaknesses and really punished me in those areas so it was quite tough.”

Henderson turned professional five years ago and has been on the pro tour since 2013, playing in tournaments around the world.

Last year, he also became a squash coach in Edinburgh where he coaches at a school and Heriot-Watt University.

He said he has struck the right balance of playing and coaching, which he said is improving his overall game.

“It has been busy combining my playing career as well as being a coach,” he said.

“I train twice a day and coach around that.

“I am then away at least once a month on tour and also compete at any other events around the UK.

“I think it is quite good to be coaching as I can learn a few things training that I can bring into my own game.”


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