Lisa is comeback player of the year

Story written By: Linda Timms, Tully Times, Thursday 27th of March

CHAMPION COMEBACK: Former Murray Upper squash player Lisa Camilleri was presented with the Comeback Player of the Year Award by Sarah Fitzgerald at the World Championship in Malaysia.

A successful return to the international women’s squash tour by Australian rep- resentative Lisa Camilleri has seen her recognised by the Women’s Squash Asso- ciation, with Camilleri awarded the Vicki Cardwell Comeback Player of the Year Award last week.

Brisbane-based Camilleri, who grew up at Murray Upper, received the award at the 2013 WSA Awards held in Penang on during the 29th World Championship.

“I was presented with the award by former five-time world champion Sarah Fitzgerald,” Camilleri said.

“I am very honoured to receive this award as the past few years have been such a rollercoaster ride with injury and then returning back to the international squash tour.”

Camilleri’s comeback campaign, after an 18-month break due to injury, began in January 2013, and she has climbed more than 100 places in the world rankings since then.

Camilleri is currently at number 43 in the world rankings; however her perform- ance at the World Championship should see her move up the ladder when the April rankings are released.

“I made it through to the third qualify- ing round before losing to current world number 18, Nour El Tayeb from Egypt,” Camilleri said.

“I played very well and was happy with my performance.

“The points I gain from this event should lift my ranking a little.

“I’m back in Brisbane for three and a half weeks, after flying home from Ma- laysia on Friday.

“Then I’m heading to Ireland for the Irish Open, before a doubles camp with the Commonwealth Games shadow team members.

“After that I’ll compete in the British Open, before a stopover for a tournament in Hong Kong on my way back to Aus- tralia.

“I’ll be away from April 18 to May 28.

“The finalised Australian Common- wealth games team will be selected after the British Open, so I’m excited about that.”