There wasn’t much time for Hannah Craig to bask in the glory of Ireland’s Division 2 European Team Championships success, which heralds a return to the top-flight for the first time since 2016.
The PSA women’s No.60 is due back on court this Saturday for her World Championship debut, so everything was quickly packed up in the Netherlands to ensure all was ready for Monday’s flight to Egypt.
Giza, just outside Cairo, was Craig’s port of call once she arrived in Africa and she will quickly be in the thick of it as she has been drawn against Sana Ibrahim, the Egyptian currently ranked No.19 in the PSA charts.
Making the start list for the first time at the tournament was no mean feat for the 27-year-old, as it is 12 years – when Madeline Perry competed at the 2014 Championships – since Ireland had a player qualify.
“I am really, really excited,” she enthused to europeansquash.com. “To get to do that for Ireland and represent Ireland on a world stage like that is an honour, so I am going to relish the opportunity and try and play my best squash.”
Craig has travelled well tuned up after winning four of her five matches at the Europeans to help the Ireland team – which also featured Breanne Flynn, Aimee McConnell and Lydia McQuillan – clinch the title last Saturday.
For a country that was playing Division 3 squash as recently as 2024, promotion to the top-flight after wins over Sweden, Slovenia, Italy, Portugal and Hungary was a massive achievement.
Describing the winning feeling as elation, Craig explained: “It’s an historic win for the women’s team and for the men to be able to get back to Division 1, so it speaks volumes to what squash is looking for in Ireland with all of the coaches and work being done behind the scenes.
“There are so many good things. The team that we have, the support that we have. Ten years ago, it was very different and Scott (Graham), the CEO, has turned things around.
“Amazing people are working with us, so very grateful for that support and it’s showing in the court over the past few years – and especially in Amsterdam with that win we have got.”
