Sarah-Jane Perry takes squash silver as Commonwealth Games nears its close

By Tom Harle in Birmingham

Birmingham squash star Sarah-Jane Perry took silver in one of the final acts of the Commonwealth Games and hailed the resounding success of the event.

Having won singles bronze behind team-mate Gina Kennedy, the 32-year-old reached the women’s doubles podium alongside the retiring Alison Waters.

Perry and Waters tasted 2-0 defeat to dominant New Zealanders Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy in one of the final sporting events of Birmingham 2022.

Perry, who learned her trade at Kenilworth squash club, hailed the transformative impact of the Games on her home region.

She said: “It’s been incredible. It’s had a phenomenal impact on so many people in the West Midlands and beyond.

“I’ve seen so many people who aren’t even sports fans saying how much they’ve enjoyed the Games, the city has been amazing, the venues are fantastic.

“You can’t put in the words what that means. You hope the legacy is going to be visible and squash has done a lot to try to inspire that.

“We hope to see the future crop of players who came to watch the Commonwealth Games. We saw it in Manchester and there’s no doubt we’re going to see it here.”

Perry and Waters were competitive in the opening game of their clash with the Kiwis but went down 11-8 11-8 in the gold medal match.

It was Waters’ final Commonwealth game having come out of retirement for the home event and also won mixed doubles silver alongside Adrian Waller.

“We were really focused and had a solid gameplan,” she said. “When we did that it was working well.

“You have to do it 100% against a pair like that and they were just a little bit more consistent than us. I’m proud of the way we fought until the end.”

Perry’s five-month old son Elijah was able to watch his mum play for the first time with partner Becky there to congratulate her at the end.

Perry said: “It's been extra special for him to be able to be here and watch me throughout hroughout the whole Games.”

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