WJC Profile: Ken Lamb - dishing up squash and study

Sydney’s Ken Lamb relocated to the Gold Coast this year to primarily focus on his tertiary studies, but the 18-year-old says it has also been an incredible boost for his squash education.

Ken’s recent results on the squash court have rocketed him into the Australian team for the 2023 WSF World Junior Championships in Melbourne, from 18-29 July.

“The thing that got me most excited about being selected was that, one year ago, I was probably eighth or ninth in Australia, a few spots behind making that (six-person junior men’s) team,” Ken says. “I’ve moved up to the Gold Coast now, mainly for Uni, but the national training centre is here as well. I’ve been putting in the work and the results are being reflected, that has been the most exciting thing.”

Ken’s focus in moving to the Gold Coast was to study Actuarial Science at Bond University. Actuarial Science is about applying maths, probability and statistics to assess future financial risks, mainly used in fields like insurance.

But Ken admits he didn’t really predict the positive impact the move would also have on his squash. He’s now coached by former World No.4 and four-time Commonwealth Games medallist Stewart Boswell.

“He knows so much, I think I’ve improved because of him, physically and tactically,” Ken says. “I’ve been getting better training sessions, better matches, but also I’m really thankful for the organisation.

"The typical Uni student isn’t really all that organised, but the training plan is set out every week, you know the tough session is Tuesday morning, the match is on Thursday night, and there’s no skipping sessions.”

There was a time Ken wanted to give up on squash altogether.

Born in Japan, with a Japanese mum and Australian dad, he took up squash when the family moved to Sydney, when he was aged about five. While he enjoyed the sport, he was turned off by competition.

“My parents played in Japan and when we moved over here to Sydney that’s when they introduced me to it,” Ken says. “I remember really disliking tournaments. I went through a patch where I really disliked squash quite a bit because of that, but my parents promised me no match play.

“I don’t know what clicked, but I’m enjoying it now. I think matches are the best part of squash now. They’re the most fun. I think matches are the ultimate to test all the different aspects of squash.”

Ken made his international debut for Australia in last year’s Trans-Tasman series against New Zealand and says he excited to play at the World Junior Championships, in his final year as a junior. Ken doesn’t know what level of squash he will pursue beyond this year, just that the sport will remain an important part of his life.

“I don’t know where I’d be without squash,” Ken says. “I want to take it as seriously as I can for the next six months or so, but I do want to take that [Actuarial] career a bit more seriously. I want to keep playing squash, I just don’t know to what extent.

“The Uni workload has stepped up quite a bit, it’s quite stressful sometimes being so busy with fulltime Uni and training. I’m also doing some work behind the desk at the squash centre and tutoring school students. I’d much prefer to be busy than sitting idle.”

“All the older kids at Carrara have been playing quite a few PSA tournaments. So, for me, when I’m 20, 21, I still want to be playing those small PSA tournaments but I haven’t thought about going professional or anything like that.”

2023 WSF World Junior Championships
18-29 July | Melbourne Sports Centres VIC
Australian Squad
Men: Harvey Allan (VIC), Dylan Classen (WA), Oscar Curtis (WA), Connor Hayes (VIC), Ken Lamb (NSW), Thomas Scott (NSW)
Women: Erin Classen* (WA), Shona Coxedge (QLD), Amelie Guziak* (VIC), Madison Lyon* (QLD), Courtney Scholtz (VIC), Hannah Slyth* (WA)
* denotes competing in women’s team event
Coaches: Cassie Thomas, Stewart Boswell, Jenny Duncalf