enjoying my Squash!

Over the past few months, I’ve become mad-keen on squash. It’s a demanding sport and with my crook knee, I have to extra careful, but I’d like to continue playing till I physically can, and also participate in some tournaments, just to get a sense of the local competition and what level I am at. It also is a great way to challenge oneself by competing with different opponents using differing styles of play. Definitely a great way to improve one’s game.

I’ve also been watching some squash, a little on TV but mostly on the internet. A lot of the chat on squash forums is dominated by plaintive calls to include squash as an Olympic sport. Personally, I haven’t joined this chorus, though with all its virtues, why squash is not a part of the Olympics beats me. Just goes to show that none of these decisions are objective in the least. As a keen amateur, I’ve restricted myself to nicks, drops, lobs, boasts etc. and leave the lobbying to others. I’ve watched quite a few of the modern greats (post Jonathan Powers, Peter Nicol era), and am impressed by the dominance of the Egyptians and the English. Of the top 30 players, 9 are from Egypt and 8 from England, 3 from Australia, 2 each from France and Malaysia and 1 each from Netherlands, India, Pakistan, Canada, Columbia and Finland.

I’ve watched world no. 24, India’s Saurav Ghosal play and he is very impressive. He bases himself in England and trains with Michael and James Willstrop. Nick Matthew is the current world no. 1 and he has a SOLID all round game. I also admire the young phenomenon, Ramy Ashour, who’s undoubtedly going to end his career as one of the all time greats of squash. He has tremendous speed and court coverage, as well as phenomenal racket skills. But the one player that I admire the most is Egypt’s Amr Shabana. He’s a left hander like I am, and has unbelievable court sense, racket skills and ball control. Some of the angles and nicks he gets are incredible to watch.