LAST year the World Squash Federation (WSF) was once again denied in their bid to have the sport of squash added to the roster of the Summer Olympic. Nonetheless the body continues to keep its hopes high and is now looking towards 2024.
Many squash players are looking forward to that historic year when the sport will be included though, and they will have the esteemed privilege of representing their country at the world’s most esteemed multisport event.

Here in Guyana local squash star Shomari Wiltshire, is among the world’s players anxiously awaiting that moment.
The junior Caribbean champion says that once squash makes it to the Olympics he’s hoping to do the same. In the interim he’s looking at the Commonwealth Games, the next edition of which is set for 2018 in Australia.
“I would hope to represent Guyana at the Commonwealth Games and possibly the Olympics if squash becomes an Olympic sport,” young Wiltshire says.

When the time comes around there is no doubt that Shomari would merit his selection to the national team. At just 13 years old Shomari has already represented Guyana both regionally and internationally, not to mention several local titles he has under his belt.
Apart from being the Boys’ Under-13 Caribbean champion, Shomari is also the National Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 squash champion.
His Caribbean champion title won earlier this year was his second consecutive win at the annual tournament.
Shomari has also played in the St Vincent and the Grenadines Squash Open, as well as at the international Junior U.S. Open and the Junior Canadian Open. In the Junior Canadian Open in 2015 he finished sixth in the Under-13 category.

Shomari was encouraged to get into the sport after most of his family members were already into the sport – Shomari is the son of former Caribbean champion Garfield Wilshire and brother of fellow junior Caribbean champions, Akeila and Larissa Wiltshire.
He started out in the sport in 2009 at just six years old. In 2010 he started competing at the national level and in 2012 he became a part of the national junior team at the Caribbean competition.
“The enjoyment of sports motivates me to continue playing and participating even if it isn’t in a competition. Some of the most advantageous things that I have taken away from being a part of sports are: I get exercise and it is a form of recreation. I have also been able to travel to many different countries,” he said.
His inaugural performance on the regional scene impressed many, and saw his peers giving him the nickname ‘Shomwow’ because he just wowed the crowd. Shomari has been a recurring component of the national junior team at the CASA ever since.

And last year, when the event was held in Barbados, he won his first individual Caribbean title. Next year Shomari will graduate to the next age level – the Under-15 – and already has his sights set of going for the title in this new category. As a matter of fact Shomari is aspiring to hold a title in all of the age categories he passes through.
“My goal for the near future is to win every Caribbean squash title until the Under-19 level which is the final level for the junior tournament,” Shomari shared.
He attributes his success to all those who’ve been a part of his training and who helped him one way or another throughout the years.
“I would like to thank my coaches, especially national coach Carl Ince, my dad, Robert Fernandes, Nyron Joseph, my fitness trainer Kezqweyah Yisrael, and my massage therapist Cathy Paul, as well as my sisters, mother and other team members and their parents for their support,” Shomari said.