Squash champion Gina gave her all to the very last in doubles

By Max Hall

An unforgettable Commonwealth Games came to an end for Beckenham ace Gina Kennedy with a quarter-final defeat in the women’s doubles competition.

The morning after the 25-year-old, a member of the Parklangley Club, became the first British woman to win individual squash gold at the Commonwealth Games, she was back on court for the first of two games in the mixed doubles before starting the women’s doubles in the afternoon session.

The following day, having exited the mixed doubles in the third of those fixtures, Kennedy’s Birmingham dream campaign came to an end in a 2-0 defeat, alongside partner Lucy Turmel, against New Zealand’s Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy.

“It’s been a hectic few days,” Kennedy told the South London Press afterwards. “It’s been hard to remember that I’m still in an event but I’m quite proud of the way I’ve been focused every match.

“I don’t feel like losing in the mixed doubles or losing in this event was due to me not being 100 per cent mentally there. I think we just lost to better, more experienced players on the day.

“Doubles is a lot less physically draining. I actually feel better today than I did yesterday. I felt fine during the match, physically and mentally it’s just that I think we were both struggling to figure out the tactics and quite how we could get into it.”

Finally having the opportunity to think back over her games, Kennedy said: “It’s been incredible. Obviously the primary thing on my mind is that I’ve just lost. Even though I won gold, I’m still finishing my Commonwealth Games on a loss.

“It doesn’t take away from my win, but that is still the current emotion. I don’t like losing even if I’m not a doubles expert.

“But it’s been incredible. I’ve literally loved every single day. Being in Team England, being a part of the athletes’ village is incredible, even that’s an experience in itself. It’s just been a bit hectic since winning gold. I haven’t had any time really to look at my phone, read all the messages, think about what I’ve achieved.”

The South London golden girl is set for a couple of weeks off “enjoy myself for a bit, see some friends, try to have a mental break,” she said, before resuming the PSA World Tour in Houston, Texas – as the Commonwealth Games champion.

Pictured top: Gina Kennedy (second from the right in red) during the clash with New Zealand (Picture: Max Hall)