Martin Knight ignores squash conflict

Colombia’s Kiwi coach Martin Knight with Matias Knudsen at the World Junior Squash Championship in Tauranga. Photo: World Junior Squash Championship.

There was a moment of potential conflict when Martin Knight's Colombia went against New Zealand in the World Junior Squash Championship in Tauranga.

Born and breed on the Kapiti Coast, Martin Knight, 33, played squash for New Zealand at three Commonwealth Games and

This year he is coaching three Colombian players, with one of his players Martin Rios having gone head to head with New Zealand's Gabe Yam.

Although he saw in front of him the silver fern that he once wore proudly, he says if he doesn't think about it, he won't worry about it.

'For me it has to be player versus player, not country versus country.”

'I try not to put any thought into the New Zealand part of it. In the moment of the match I just focus on my player.”

Martin originally turned down the position as couch for the Coloumbian team because he wanted to keep playing squash and have a crack at a fourth Commonwealth Games for New Zealand on the Gold Coast next year.

A persistent shoulder injury, however, finally forced him to retire and take up coaching full time, joining Colombia six months ago.

He says he enjoys being back in New Zealand and is looking forward to the games ahead.

Rios lost to Yam in the 33-64 division but teammate Matias Knudsen is doing well with wins against two Pakistan players, one of them the 13th seed, and both beaten by the narrowest of margins - 11-9 in the fifth set.

New Zealand hasn't had a good run this year, with no Kiwi's left in the main draw.

Number one men's Finn Trimble lost in four to England's Adam Corcoran, Anika Jackson lost in three to Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam, and number one women's Kaitlyn Watts lost in straight sets to Malaysia's Chan Yiwen.

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1 comment

Welcome back Martin !

Posted on 21-07-2017 23:43 | By The Caveman

I remember you from way back, BEFORE you moved to Kapiti - unless I am mistaken I think that you originally played out of a club known as Collegians as a very young beginner junior.


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