Tom Richards (squash player)

{{Short description|English squash player (born 1986)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox squash player

| name = Tom Richards

| image = Palmer & Richards.jpg

| caption = Tom(left) & David Palmer in action.

| fullname =

| nickname =

| country = {{ENG}}

| residence = Walton-on-Thames, England

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1986|7|10}}

| birth_place = Guildford, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.83|precision=0}}

| weight = {{convert|77|kg|lb}}

| turnedpro = 2005{{Cite web|url=https://www.squashinfo.com/player/703-tom-richards|title = Squash Info | Tom Richards | Squash}}

| retired = 2022

| plays = Right handed

| coach = Robbie Temple, Stephen Meads

| racquet = Karakal

| website =

| event = Men's singles

| years_active =

| highest_ranking = No. 12

| date_of_highest_ranking = September 2012

| current_ranking =

| date_of_current_ranking =

| WorldOpenresult =

| titles = 6

| finals = 15

| medaltemplates =

| updated = June 2022

}}

Tom Richards (born 10 July 1986 in Guildford) is a retired Professional Squash player on the PSA World Tour who represented England. He reached a career-high World ranking of No. 12, winning a total of 6 PSA Titles. At the age of 25, Richards was a member of the England Elite squad and a full England International,{{Cite web|url=https://psaworldtour.com/players/view/886/info|title=Tom Richards - Professional Squash Association|date=2 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802121302/https://psaworldtour.com/players/view/886/info |archive-date=2 August 2015 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.squashinfo.com/player/703-tom-richards|title=Squash Info | Tom Richards | Squash|website=www.squashinfo.com}}[http://www.sbmsports.co.uk/players/squash/tom-richards SBM Sports Player Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927204521/http://www.sbmsports.co.uk/players/squash/tom-richards|date=2015-09-27}} winning the European Team Championships in 2012, 2016 and 2019.{{Cite web |last=stevecubbins |date=2022-06-08 |title=Tom Richards retires |url=https://thesquashsite.com/tom-richards-retires |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=SquashSite - all about Squash |language=en-GB}}

Richards was part of the England Squash set-up since the age of 9 having started playing at the age of 3. He was the Under 12 and Under 13 British National Champion and an Under 15, 17 and 19 European Champion with the England Team. He decided to turn professional at the age of 18 in November 2004 and in 2005 he won his first PSA title becoming the Kenya Open Champion.

Richards suffered a series of serious injuries throughout his career, including an ACL tear within the early years of his Professional career and a major Hamstring Tear in the 2012/13 season. After ACL reconstruction surgery Richards climbed to his highest ranking of 12 in the World in the 2012/13 season before suffering a 100% hamstring tear at the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich, slipping on sweat. Choosing rehabilitation instead of surgery, the following 18 months were a gruelling mixture of injury, rehabilitation and set back. After 17 years of competing globally Richards retired, aged 35.