Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Shomari Wilshire dominating C’bean Junior Squash
2019 Canadian Junior Open most memorable moment
By Sean Devers
Born in Georgetown, Guyana on September 20, 2003 to Roxanne George-Wiltshire and Garfield Wiltshire, 16 year-old Shomari Wilshire has squash blood flowing through his veins.
Shomari Wiltshire won Caribbean U-13, 15 & 17 tiles in his outstanding career so far.
His dad is a former Southern Caribbean Squash Champion, while both of his sisters play squash at a good level.
The youngest of three siblings, Shomari took to Squash like a duck takes to water and played his first tournament as a six-year-old.
Two years later Shomari made his debut for his Country in the 2012 CASA junior Tournament in Jamaica and since then his young career has galloped forward at full speed ahead.
The highlight of his career was his performance in last December’s Canadian Junior Open tournament at the Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, when he lost in a highly competitive U-17 Final to Canadian Gabriel Yun. Not surprisingly, Shomari says that his most memorable moment.
The extremely talented Shomari attended the Mae’s School and is now a student at Queen’s College which is one of Guyana’s premier Secondary Schools.
Already the youngest of the Wilshire’s clan has competed in the USA, Canada, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and St Vincent but has not forsaken his academics in his quest for sports glory.
The Wiltshire family in 2011.
“I try to balance academics and Squash. I go to school, then come to practice before going home to study in the nights,” Shomari informed Kaieteur Sports just before an evening practice session at the Georgetown Club’s Squash Courts on Camp Street in the City.
Shomari, a former Caribbean U-13, U-15 and present U-17 Champion, said he trains and practices on Mondays and Tuesdays, takes a rest on Wednesday before resuming his training on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“Monday and Tuesday I do drills, while on Thursdays I play games bef
Canadian Gabriel Yun and runner up Shomari Wiltshire after the 2019 Canada Junior Open U-17 Final last December.
ore going to the Gym on Fridays from seven in the mornings. I try to put in the hard work both at school and on the Squash Court since I fully understand the importance of a sound education. That is important, especially to get scholarships,” said Shomari, who is set to write 14 CSec subjects this year.
Shomari says he wants to go as far as he can in Squash and represent Guyana in the Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and Senior CASA and believes that he can remain in Guyana and accomplish that goal.
Shomari revealed that English-born Guyanese squash player Sunil Seth, who represented Guyana at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is the best player he has played against.
Shomari’s favourite player is Egyptian Ramy Ashore who retired last year at age 31 after becoming the youngest player to reach number one in the world since the 1980s, as well as being the first ever two-time World Junior Squash Champion.
When not studying or playing Squash, Shomari enjoys playing Football and Video games and credits Coach Carl Ince, his dad, GSA’s President David Fernandes and senior players Niron Joseph and Alex Arjoon as the main people who has helped him with his game.
He feels the standard of Squash in Guyana is at a good place but would love to see more done for the devolvement of the sport outside of the Court, like more focus on things like Nutrition for the players. Among his disappointments is that Squash has not been included in the Olympics as yet.
Shomari is dedicated to improving his game and if he progresses at the rate he doing at present he could end what should be an illustrious Career as Guyana’s best Male Squash player.
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