Desni McIntosh Overcomes Career-Threatening Knee Injury to Make GB Debut at FIP Senior World Cup

Desni McIntosh is playing for Great Britain for the first time this week, in the 50+ women's draw at the FIP Senior World Cup in Buenos Aires. The tournament runs from September 14 to 19, the first time the event has been held in South America.

From crutches to competition

McIntosh's route to a GB shirt started with a skiing accident in Canada, not long after she qualified as a doctor. The fall shattered her knee and doctors warned she could lose the leg. She spent close to three years on crutches and eventually saw a leading knee surgeon in Indianapolis, who told her it was the worst knee injury he had ever examined. She underwent multiple ACL reconstructions, the second in 2012, and still deals with dislocations.

McIntosh discovered padel in 2017, after her injury ruled out the faster sports she had played before, including squash and lacrosse at international level for Scotland.

"If padel hadn't come along I don't know what I'd be doing now," she said. "I tried golf and lawn balls but they aren't fast enough."

GB's biggest squad yet

The LTA picked McIntosh from a record 160 applicants for a 25-player GB squad, its largest at a Senior World Cup. She partners Victoria Davies in the 50+ category. Captain Libby Fletcher leads a squad spread across five age groups, from 40+ to 60+, the first edition to include a 60+ division.

McIntosh, who works in psychiatry after her medical career changed course, plays out of Edinburgh Sports Club.