Stewart Boswell Calls It A Day
Australia's Stewart Boswell shocked followers of the Kuwait
PSA Cup when he announced his decision to retire from the
Professional Squash Association World Tour after falling to
Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in the quarter-finals of the PSA
World Series event in Kuwait at the weekend.
In a hand-written note, the 33-year-old former world No4 wrote: "While
it's been a difficult decision, I feel I've reached the stage in my life
both on and off court where it's time I called it a day on my playing
career. Squash has been my whole life since I was about nine years old,
and I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to play professionally
for as long as I have.
"I'd like to thank all the people who've coached and helped me along the
way, as well as the AIS and Squash Australia for their constant backing.
Most of all though, I want to thank my family, my mum, dad and sister
back in Australia for the sacrifices they all made when I was younger to
give me this opportunity.
"And finally, to my wife Vicky (Botwright) for her unwavering support
and understanding of how much playing squash has meant to me."
Boswell steps away from the sport after a run of recent good form in
PSA World Series events, including a semi-final berth in the
Qatar Classic and quarter-final finishes in the Hong Kong Open
and PSA Cup - results which put him into 9th place in the current
2011 PSA World Series Standings.
Born in Canberra, Boswell reached 35 PSA Tour finals and won 20
tournaments in his career - including four Australian Opens and
the Swedish Open and US Open. After a career-threatening
back injury which kept him away from the Tour for two full years, he
returned in April 2005 and began a remarkable run of seven successive
Tour title wins - four as a qualifier - and catapulted from 299 to 20 in
the world rankings in the year.
Furthermore, Boswell - currently ranked 16 in the world - played in five
Australian world championship teams and went to three Commonwealth
Games, winning three silver medals and one bronze.
"Rather unexpectedly, the PSA Tour has lost another stalwart of the
game," said PSA CEO Alex Gough. "We are all a little stunned as
Stewart has fought so hard to get back to the top echelons of the game
and has recently hit the best form of his career since reaching world
number four in 2002.
"But professional sport is a hard taskmaster and Stewart has a young
family to think about now and we wish him the very best in the next part
of his life."
Australian head coach Byron Davis said Boswell was an ornament to
the sport: "Stewart's been a wonderful player for many years and we are
sad to see him go, although I can understand his decision.
"He has always represented Australia with pride and has been one of the
most popular players ever to pull on a national shirt. He has also been
a fine ambassador for Australian squash and the AIS squash program.
"The sport is losing one of the true gentlemen of the courts."
Boswell's decision follows the recent retirement announcement of his
long-time Australian team-mate David Palmer.
|
