Leevey eyes another Commonwealth Games medal

ROSS GIBLIN/Dominion Post

MEDAL: Squash player Tamsyn Leevey relaxing at home , with her children Niwa, 9 and Cassius, 3, before heading off to the Commonwealth Games.

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Last year Tamsyn Leevey decided to have one last shot at squash.

The 32 year-old solo mother from Wainuiomata could see the Commonwealth Games on the horizon and she liked the thought of adding to the silver medal she and Shelley Kitchen won in the doubles in Melbourne in 2006.

The other option was to return to work, possibly processing GST accounts.

Now, with three-and-a-bit weeks to go, Leevey feels she is ready and says she is fit and hitting the ball well.

"I've been training four hours a day, six days a week," she said. "I can get better but I feel at a good level."

Everything was going to plan until a few weeks ago when Kitchen withdrew from the Games due to exhaustion.

That threw a spanner in the works. Leevey's doubles partner, Joelle King, was switched to pair with Jaclyn Hawkes and Leevey had to strike up a new combination with Matamata's Kylie Lindsay (51 in the world).

It looks to have diminished her medal prospects.

"I wouldn't say that. We know each other's game very well.

"Communication is a big part of it. Maybe we won't have the higher seeding that Joelle and I would've had but there is no pressure on us at all and sometimes that can work in your favour.

"Kylie's racquet skills are amazing, she was very good at a young age. We've had a couple of hits together.

"Neither of us are playing singles at the Comm Games so we can spend the whole time playing doubles to get ready."

The draw is yet to be made, but Leevey jokes that having a court to play on is a greater concern to her, given the venue construction delays in New Delhi.

"Doubles competition will be tight, it is on the day, it is so cut-throat, best of three sets, first to 11."

Leevey's career has been stop-start. She had a career-high singles ranking of 25 in 2005, retired in 2006, then drifted in and out of the game before committing again last year.

"I'm happy with my decision," she said. "I get to go and experience it all again – it is going to be amazing. I'd love to come home with another medal, any colour."

Leevey went to India in 2004 for the world doubles championships. She finds the overseas trips unusual given all the downtime she has compared to the busy life being a mother to sons Niwa, 9, and Cassius, 3.

Wellington coach Nick Mita has helped prepare Leevey. They have finished her strength phase and are now focusing on her speed.

There was a speed bump at the weekend when Cassius was hospitalised with asthma but he says Leevey never complains. Mita says Leevey also has good family support.

"Tamsyn is a get on and do the bizzo type of person."

After the Games, Leevey will compete in the world teams championships in Palmerston North starting on November 29, then maybe she will call it a day and embark on a coaching career.

Games Team

Women: Jaclyn Hawkes, Joelle King, Tamsyn Leevey, Kylie Lindsay

Men: Martin Knight, Campbell Grayson.

- © Fairfax NZ News