Squash: Kemp back holding court

Jaclyn Kemp. Photo / Photosport

Kiwi squash player Jaclyn Kemp is targeting a return to the court to defend her Commonwealth Games doubles crown alongside Joelle King in Glasgow next year.

Kemp (nee Hawkes) retired last year to start a family with husband Jonathan but always believed she could play in Glasgow if the timing lined up.

Their daughter, Maia, was born in May and Kemp has already begun playing locally in Ipswich, England, where she is based.

Kemp joked that King rang her almost immediately after Maia's birth to check they were on track.

"She called me when Maia was only about two weeks old," Kemp said. "We were just chatting and she said, 'so are you coming back?' So we definitely want to get back to try and defend our title."

King and Kemp defeated English pair Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro to win gold at the 2010 Games in Delhi.

Given Kemp is based overseas there are some logistical hurdles to overcome but she could possibly come to New Zealand in April or May next year for a camp. There is also a tournament in Manchester in January that the pair could play in.

Doubles tournaments are not played regularly so finding meaningful match play would be tough. Kemp, a former world No12, said she had little doubt the pair could produce the same on-court chemistry by the time the Games started in July.

"I think we'll automatically be able to play with each other again, but we'll probably have to brush up on our skills a bit," said Kemp.

Squash New Zealand high performance coach Paul Hornsby said Kemp would attend some camps to acclimatise to the lower tin at the front of the court, which will be dropped to 13 inches from 19 for next year's Games in a bid to make matches more exciting.

Kemp will play some tournaments next year as she works her way back to peak fitness and all going to plan, she and King could be on track for another golden moment in Glasgow.