A string of successful matches over the summer – including a Final placing at The Sports Academy Open in Huntingdon and a Semi Final at the Cheetham Hill Classic in Manchester – has elevated AJN sponsored, Emma Bartley’s, world rankings in the Professional Squash Association (PSA).
At just 15 years old, Bury St Edmunds-based, Emma, became one of the youngest members of the PSA and – despite the set-backs and match delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic – has seen her world ranking climb 97 places.
Coached by former professional player, Lauren Selby, Emma (now 17) is currently ranked 192 in the world – up from 289 in 2019.
In addition to her success on the PSA circuit, Emma was recently crowned ‘Under 19 Champion’ at the 2021 Suffolk Closed tournament, ‘East Regional Champion’ at Under 19 and is now being considered for selection to represent England at the Junior World Championships next year.
Having first picked up a squash racket at the tender age of three, Emma has notched up an astonishing array of squash titles including winner of the Eastern Region Squash Championship at every level from Under 11 to Under 19, and Under 11 National Champion.
She was also ranked Number One in the country in the Under 11 and Under 13 categories, Number Two in the Under 15 category and is currently ranked fifth nationally in the Under 19 grouping.
Emma’s astonishing accomplishments, however, demand uncompromising commitments from her. When she isn’t putting time into Sixth Form College, learning to drive and competing in at least two adult PSA tournaments a month, Emma has a punishing training regime which includes regular training sessions with her coach, training with the England squad, strength and conditioning sessions and weekly fitness and yoga exercises.
When asked what her ultimate ambition is, Emma simply says: ‘World Champion’.
