Today’s Star, Tomorrow’s Leader: Josh Masters

The young Briton sees life and its choices with the clarity of a mathematician

LAUSANNE — In sport, you either win or lose. Like it or not, that’s the reality. Similarly, in mathematics you’re either right or wrong. There is no scope for ambiguity. It might be easy then, to understand why an athlete might gravitate towards mathematics, although admittedly few do. 

Great Britain’s Joshua Masters is not only a mathematics student at the University of the West of England, Bristol, but also the reigning world university champion in squash. Along with compatriot Lily Taylor, he steered Britain to a clean sweep at the recently concluded World University Squash Championship in Birmingham.

The Team Final gold on the last day came just three days after Josh and compatriot Lily Taylor had claimed the men’s and women’s individual titles. For Josh, beating top seed Yip Tsz Fung in the final was the icing on the cake and he counts the Championship week among the highlights of his career. 

“I’m really happy to win gold at this year’s Championship, improving on my bronze medal from two years ago,” an elated Josh told FISU. “I’m very pleased with how I played throughout the event and it’s probably the best result of my career so far, beating Yip in the final.” 

“I really enjoyed the WUC experience,” he adds. “I always enjoy playing as part of a team  and representing Great Britain together.”

At 23, Josh has already been playing squash for nearly twenty years. His father initiated him into the sport at the age of 4, and there’s been no looking back since then. All this while though, he’s also found a way to manage his studies equally well. Mathematics is not the easiest of subjects, especially at university level. Ask him about the subject and he’s quick to say, “I always enjoyed maths at school, and I like the fact that there’s either a correct or a wrong answer.”

Once again, black or white, no grey. That’s probably why Josh is looking at narrowing his focus to just one thing now and playing squash full time.

“The squash season is just getting going now, so I have PSA (Professional Squash Association) events coming up in the next few weeks. I will be getting in some final training and some rest too, making sure I’m ready and as prepared as I can be.”

The focus is razor sharp. Much like his favourite fictional character, James Bond, Josh Masters seems to know what he wants and how to get it.

“To become World No.1 and World Champion are the ultimate goals,” he says with the clarity of a mathematician.