England’s no.1 female squash player, Laura Massaro, has been shortlisted for the Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year award.
She has enjoyed a year starred with huge achievements on the global stage, including victory at the World Championship in March and earning England two silver medals in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Massaro, ranked second in the world, has been shortlisted alongside a host of the biggest names in women’s sport, including athlete Jo Pavey, cycling’s Joanna Rowsell and Olympic skeleton star Lizzy Yarnold. 
“I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to be on this shortlist,” said Massaro. “To see my name alongside those incredible athletes is really humbling and I’m sure we all want to say a big thank you to the judges. It’s been an amazing year for British sportswomen and it’s fantastic that the Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards give us all a chance to celebrate that.”
Now in their 27th year, the awards celebrate the outstanding contribution to sport made by elite performers, coaches, administrators, community volunteers and inspirational female figures.
On the evening of Wednesday, November 19th the awards will be broadcast live on Sky Sports for the second successive year.
Keir Worth, Chief Executive of England Squash and Racketball, said: “It’s wonderful that Laura has been recognised in the shortlist for such a prestigious award. She is such a credit to her sport and she’s a role model not just in squash but as a female athlete. Her achievements this year have helped shine a spotlight on squash.”
The Sportswoman of the Year is one of six awards being announced on November 19. The other individual categories include Young Sportswoman of the Year, Disability Sportswoman of the Year, Community Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration. The general public can get involved in the awards by voting online for their Team of the Year.
THE SUNDAY TIMES & SKY SPORTS SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEARSHORTLIST 2014:
Charlotte Dujardin (dressage)
Fran Halsall (swimming)
Laura Massaro (squash)
Jo Pavey (athletics)
Joanna Rowsell (track cycling)
Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton)
Barney Francis, Sky Sports Managing Director, commented: “There have been some incredible individual and team performances in women’s sport this year, which made our job as judges tougher than ever. As well as rewarding success at the elite level, the awards recognise those individuals that put in hard work and hours every week up and down the country to support women’s sport and we were inspired by the nominations. Congratulations to all of those shortlisted and we’re looking forward to celebrating a fantastic year in a few weeks’ time at Sky Sports.”
The Sportswomen of the Year Awards are also supported by the Sunday Times Wine Club, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation.
Story courtesy of EnglandSquashAndRacketball.com