Karakal Profile, Joel Makin

karakal joel makin Birmingham based Joel Makin joined the PSA World Tour in 2013 and has seen a rapid rise up through the PSA World Rankings ever since, reaching the top ten for the first time in 2020.

Joel's first final appearance came in 2014 at the McWil & Euro Styl Gdansk Open, narowly losing out to James Earles. In 2015 Joel again finished runner-up to Kristian Frost at the Swiss Open, before claiming his first PSA World Tour title at the City of Greater Bendigo International, when he downed Joshua Larkin in straight games in the final.

Joel continued to make consistent final appearances. A runner-up finish followed in the Pareti Open but Makin fell short of the main prize with Christophe Andre claiming the title after a four-game contest.

More final appearances followed with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Stotford Classic and the Kent Open before Joel broke in to the world’s top 50 for the first time in 2017.

2018 saw Joel capture his second title, beating Joshua Masters in the final of the Kent Open, before claiming notable runner-up spots at the Nash Cup and the Chicago Open behind Tom Richards and an in-form Cesar Salazar. Later that same year, after making the semis of both the Pittsburgh and Irish Opens Joel claimed his third PSA victory in the Arnold Homes Tring Open, defeating Peter Creed in the final.

Strong performances and a steady rise up the World Rankings continued throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons, culminating in Joel claiming a spot in the World's top 10 for the first time in his career.

By now the British #1, Joel also led the Welsh team at the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championships, as they surprised everyone to finish 3rd, the nation’s best finish at the tournament since 1999.

In August 2021 Joel captured the British National Squash title and in November, added the Welsh National crown to his trophy cabinet.

The Welshman continued that rise in 2021, breaking into the top eight for the first time at the end of the year. That came after consistently making it into the quarter finals of the major tournaments, along with making it to the last four at the CIB PSA Black Ball Squash Open, U.S. Open presented by Truist and the Qatar QTerminals Classic.

His 2022 campaign started with a runner-up finish at the Squash on Fire Open in Washington, D.C. quarters at the Windy City Open, Optasia Championships and Canary Wharf Classic, before securing the biggest crown with victory at the Manchester Open, before going on to take the Silver Medal in the Men’s Singles at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
  • Born: October 1994
  • Birthplace: Pembrokeshire, Wales
  • Height: 180 cm
  • Plays: Right Handed
  • Joined PSA World Tour: 2013
  • Other Interests: Boxing, MMA and Crossfit

PSA World Tour and National Titles:

  • 2015 City of Greater Bendigo International
  • 2018 Kent Open
  • 2018 Arnold Homes Tring Open
  • 2021 British National Champion
  • 2021 Welsh National Champion
  • 2022 PSA Manchester Open

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Watch In Depth With... Joel Makin