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Makin targets world top five after 'massive' title win

Squash player Joel Makin concentrates on the ballImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Joel Makin won silver for Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

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Joel Makin has won the biggest title of his career with victory at the 2024 Silicon Valley Open.

World number eight Makin beat Egyptian Youssef Soliman 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-3 in the final in San Francisco.

The 29-year-old Welshman - who won his second British title earlier this year - says he is now targetting a place in the top five of the world rankings.

The game he lost in his 80 minute final against 11th-ranked Soliman was the only one he dropped on his way to success in the $122,000 (拢94,000) Gold level event.

鈥淚t鈥檚 massive, I鈥檝e obviously lost in the final of a couple of Gold events, so it鈥檚 nice to get one done," said Makin.

"It鈥檚 a nice achievement and a nice milestone. I鈥檝e obviously just gone to eight in the world last week, so hopefully this win will help me go towards seven or six in the world over the next couple of months.

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a group of us competing between that five and ten spots. I think the top four have consolidated themselves in terms of points and wins, but I鈥檓 going to look to try get to five and then challenge from there. "

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