Cassie Jackman Bows Out At The Top

Cassie Jackman, one of England's most successful woman squash players of all time, has been forced to retire from the game after sustaining a back injury for the third time in her career.

Jackman, who has been playing squash since she was nine and celebrates her 32nd birthday on Wednesday, has enjoyed a distinguished career in the sport - winning 28 WISPA World Tour titles since 1991 including the World Open crown in 1999. She became world No1 for the first time in January 2000, topping the list until undergoing the first of two back operations in November 2000.

Jackman was back under the surgeon's scalpel in September 2002 - for a further 'disectomy' (the removal of part of a disc) on the same disc - yet, remarkably, reclaimed her world No1 crown a year after returning to the world circuit.

A week after winning last month's Shanghai WorldStars Championship, the first major event to be held in mainland China, the Norfolk star was rushed to hospital in Doha after sustaining breathing difficulties in the semi-finals of the Qatar Classic. Her comeback attempt in the following week's KL World Open in Malaysia ended in disappointment when a 'dead leg' led to her being unable to offer any serious second round resistance against New Zealander Shelley Kitchen.

"I had a scan as soon as I got back home and it revealed what I feared - that I have a slipped disc and a slight tear in another disc," said Jackman from her home in Norwich.

"I don't think my body's ready for yet another bout of surgery so I feel that there's no real alternative but to stop playing.

"I'm very disappointed as I always envisaged that I would retire when I wanted to, rather than when I was forced to, as I am now. And I feel I've been playing as well as ever recently, and was looking forward to competing in the 2006 Commonwealth Games - which has been my goal for sometime now," added the only woman to have won two squash medals in both the 1998 and 2002 Games.

"It'll feel really strange just not playing at all any more - not even matches in the local men's leagues - and I will really miss all my friends," added the dejected world No2 who was awarded the MBE earlier this year.

England National Coach David Pearson believes that Jackman is the best player England has ever had: "Cassie has been our best woman player for some 12 years now and, except for the British Open, has won every title possible - including her record sixth British national crown earlier this year.

"But what perhaps sets her apart from all other players in the world is her incredible strength," added Pearson, her coach since 1996. "The fact that she twice came back from back operations to return to the peak of her game shows incredible strength of mind and body - I count it as a real privilege to have worked with her."

WISPA Executive Director Andrew Shelley commented: "Cassie may have ended her competitive career a little earlier than she intended but it has been a truly sparkling one. She has lit up the WISPA Tour, experienced great personal triumphs, been world number one, world champion, battled back after serious injuries and kept on winning.

"She won friends everywhere with her buccaneering style on court and warm personality off it. Every player has to retire at some point but not seeing Cassie's name on major event draws will take some getting used to," added Shelley

Andy Bunting, the International Player Promotions Manager for Prince, Jackman's long-time racquet brand, added: "It's always a sad day when one of the world's top players has to retire - and the world of squash has lost one of its greatest names today. Cassie is one of the most disciplined and hard-working players I have known - the perfect role-model for youngsters. She has not only been one of the most loyal players we have ever had at Prince, but she has also served her country with distinction - she will be sorely missed."