In Squash - The Podcast

We're at the business end of the 2022/23 PSA with the British Open and World Championships just around the corner. PSA CEO Alex Gough joins the pod to talk about what he describes as perhaps the busiest season in PSA history. We also talk officiating in terms of what Lee Drew and the team have been facing and the move to have paid full-time officials on tour. Also, we get into the Olympic bid, the PSA Foundation, the Challenger Series, qualifying for the World Champs, and of course that elephant in the room the Mostafa Asal ban. Check out our sponsor Open Squash at www.opensquash.org

When Jonathon Power made his mark on the pro tour by winning the 1996 Tournament of Champions, the years that followed were unlike anything professional squash had witnessed prior. JP emerged as a real breath of fresh air; a braggadocios brand of squash, appealing both in terms of the squash itself and the theater that JP brought with it. Jethro Binns and the fellas at Squash Skills capture all of this in their 3 Part Jonathon Power documentary, a documentary which was long overdue. Jethro and I take a JP deep dive talking about the JPs early years which are the focus of Part 1 right up to the 1996 TOC. We also look ahead to part 2: the JP /Peter Nicol rivalry. Jethro also gives his thoughts on the Mostafa Asal ban at the end of the episode. Great chat with Jethro and also many thanks to www.opensquash.org for sponsoring the pod.

Danny Lee talks about the event that he has put so much time and effort into over the years, the Optasia Squash Championship, previously named the Chanel VAS Championships. Danny talks about this year's event, his son Charlie's first round win, world #1 implications and of course some more great anecdotes about "The Shark". Please check out what's going on at Open Squash at www.opensquash.org

On September 16th, 2022, Alex Preston and Michael Pearce played squash for 40 hours, 1 minute and 59 seconds, breaking the world record by 2 minutes. Alex Preston talks about the record, where the idea was borne from, the prep, the team involved, the marathon itself, and the aftermath. Alex and I flesh out this accomplishment, and everything in and around it is mind-blowing; a tremendous chat about a tremendous accomplishment. I also give my recap of Canary Wharf at the conclusion of my chat with Alex. For all the details on the world record, check out this link: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-squash-marathon-(singles) Many thanks to our sponsor www.opensquash.org

Charlie Lee is making his move; winner of two Challenger Series events within the past month, including the Guilfoyle Classic in Toronto, Charlie's got is sights set on riding this wave on up the PSA rankings. Charlie and I have chill out Canadian style as he's been acclimatizing to life in the Great White North for the past few weeks. We talk about his Guilfoyle win and his win in Philly previously, his battles with fatigue and adjustments he had to make, the impact his dad Danny Lee has had on his growth along with his older brother Joe and Tom Richards. We also talk about the Optasia Classic event coming up at the end of the month at his home in London. Great chat and first podcast effort with Charlie Lee. Please check out our Sponsor www.opensquash.org

The in form player on women's tour right now has to be Olivia Clyne; a tremendous February has arguably been the best squash of her career. We have a great chat about her growth as player over the past year, both physically and mentally. We also talk about her string of great results, Team USA's amazing second place finish at the World Teams and US Women's squash in general, and a discussion about on the recent on court behavior issues at junior events. Check out our sponsor www.opensquash.org

The sights were set on gold from well before the games, and to make it happen is a testament to the player/coach relationship Ben Ford and Gina Kennedy have established for several years now. Ben talks about his growth as a professional coach, the early days with Gina, her injury struggles before and after the games, and his thoughts on the women's game. Great chat and many thanks to www.opensquash.org

This discussion brought together 5 extremely passionate members of our squash community, all of whom have dedicated much of their recent time to identifying ways forward towards growing the game. This panel discussion was meant to discuss various initiatives, issues, shortcomings and potential solutions to helping squash regain footing and head back towards a period of growth. The panel includes: 1. Zena Wooldridge - President of the World Squash Federation - https://www.worldsquash.org/ 2. Peter Marshall -Part of the Independent Squash Minds group and former World #2 3. Robert Eberhard - Squash entrepreneur, CEO of ActiveScout and author of soon to released book on growing the game of squash 4. Cleve Miller - Excecutive Director Open Squash - www.opensquash.org 5. Ed Alvarez - Unionville Athletic Club President and Squash Mad contributor on growing the game www.unionvilleac.com

Victor Crouin has picked up exactly where he left off at the end of 2021/22, on an upward trajectory and playing some inspired and impressive squash. This episode drops as Victor has reached another final, the Canadian Open where he meets number 2 seed Joel Makin in what should be a great match. Victor talks about the Canadian Open, his season to date, the officiating dialogue in the aftermath of Aly Abu's tweet suggestions, and he also sets the record straight on the Squash Mad article which cited his thoughts on world #1 Mostafa Asal. Great chat as always, and please visit the www.opensquash.org website for details on their growing the game vision.

The Oxford Properties Canadian Open brings world class squash back to the Great White North. Bow Valley Athletic Club is hosting the event, and club CEO Dean Brown returns to the pod to break it all down!! Check out BVAC https://www.bowvalleyathleticclub.com and the pod sponsor Open Squash at www.opensquash.org

Squash Mad's RJ Mitchell comes on to recap the start of the 2023 season, and then we take a deep dive into the Mostafa Asal situation, and RJ is an authority given his two recent interviews with Mostafa combined with his Victor Crouin, Marwan El Shorbagy and Jansher Khan stories, all of whom had a bit to say about the current world #1. We also talk about the rising star of Diego Elias, the future rivalry b/t Elias and Asal, and Gina Kennedy's return to health and form to begin 2023. Great chat. Please check out what our sponsor www.opensquash.org is up to.

Jackson Bragman from the Bragman Breakdown helps me to breakdown the Tournament of Champions which concluded a few days back in New York City. We talk about the stellar performances throughout the event from the two eventual winners, Diego Elias and Nour El Sherbini. Finals day was a bit anti climactic, but overall the event had plenty of great moments, including the play of the Colombian Cannonball Miguel Rodriguez, and we talk about what's made him such a special player over the years. We also talk a bit about the performances of the US women and the promise of the US men who are on the cusp of making a move into the prime time of the PSA rankings. Check out the Bragman Breakdown here https://thebragmanbreakdown.buzzsprout.com/ and check out the goings on our sponsor www.opensquash.org

Hard to believe it was 4 years back, shortly after retirement, that the Wolf, Nick Matthew, first appeared on this podcast. Former World #1, 3 x British and World Open Champ and 3x Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Nick shows up like the legend he truly is. Nick gives great insight into everything we touched on: the recent British Junior Open including British success at U19, the first ever US male winner in any age group, coaching and officiating issues, and of course the Egyptian dominance over-all. Nick gives his TOC predictions, great insight on new world #1 Mostafa Asal, and how he and his peers back in the day would have played v. Asal, both mentally and from a tactical standpoint. Ep 250 is indeed pure gold. Many thanks to our sponsors at www.opensquash.org

2022 has been a breakout year for another one of the game's rising young talents. Reigning US National champion Timmy Brownell is on the cusp of regular gold and platinum event status. Currently at his highest ever world ranking of 52, Timmy's just outside the number that would guarantee him spots in those big event draws, but he knows it's just a matter of time. Timmy talks about his great season to date including his SL Green US Nationals victory along with Challenger Series wins in Vancouver and Louisville. We also look back to last year's TOC where he won the qualifying event and then went on to win his first round. Timmy also talks about how proud he is represent the US and how US men's squash is not far off replicating the success of the US women. Squash talk doesn't get much better than this. Open Squash is our podcast sponsor, so please check out their homepage at www.opensquash.org

Aly Abu Elenein is without question one of the bright young talents on the tour, with impressive results over some of the best in the game in his first half-year on tour. Aly finds himself poised to take a legitimate run at reaching the top 10 in the near future. Aly and I talk about his season to date, and how it's inspired him going forward. Aly also discusses his squash backstory which for an Egyptian standout junior was somewhat unconventional. We also talk about his 4 exceptional years at Penn, and the highlight of his squash career till now, clinching the Ivy League title for Penn in February, 2022. We also discuss how unique the varsity squash is and how the team aspect of the game has helped him to develop as a player. Many thanks to our sponsor Open Squash, www.opensquash.org

Earlier this month, Squash Mad's founder and Editor in Chief Alan Thatcher decided to relinquish the reins at the publication for health reasons. Yet, the publication is in very good spot going forward with the team he has assembled. Alan and I talk about his decision to step aside for the time being, the growth of Squash Mad and its team of writers. We also take a World Squash Day deep dive by looking back at the beginnings, its growth since then, and the struggles he's had in getting some national and international governing bodies to support the day. Overall, a tremendous chat with someone who's spent a lifetime working towards growing the game of squash. Please check out our sponsors at www.Opensquash.org

Ending the first half of the 2022/23 PSA with a victory at the Hong Kong Football Club Open, Marwan El Shorbagy finds himself back to playing his best squash. Not only that, he finds himself back in the mix again at #6 in the world, with all to play for with some big events fast approaching in 2023. This is a great chat about the season to date, joining forces with the all time great Rodney Martin, and his takes on officiating and the need to have the very best officials at all the major events. We also talk about big bro Mohammed representing England now and how supportive he and his family were with that big move. Our sponsor is Open Squash, visit their website at www.opensquash.org

One of the most inspirational squash stories you'll hear, Wee Wern Low has undergone 4 knee surgeries throughout her pro squash career, and has just embarked on a comeback that this time has nothing to do with getting back to the top 10 or winning tournaments; it's about inspiring others and proving that if you put your mind to something you can be successful. Wee Wern opens up about her career, reaching the top 5 in the world and then shortly thereafter having to undergo the first of four eventual knee surgeries. The 2018 comeback at the Malaysian Open after her third surgery is an incredible story and she looks back on that. Also, we discuss the frustration and disappointment she's experienced after having been dropped from the Malaysian National Team over the summer, and of course she gives huge props to world squash and Malaysian legends Nicol David and Ong Beng Hee for how instrumental they have been in her career, along with her long time coach Aaron Soyza. Check out the In Squash Podcast sponsor websit

Throughout the 2021/22 season, Nathan Lake was hitting his stride; promising results, his first ever English cap as a senior team member, and an injection of self-confidence heading into the tail end of the season. Unfortunately, a jam packed schedule caught up with him and he was forced to retire due to injury in round 1 of the Tournament of Champions back in May of this year. Since then, he's found his game again and is ready to hit the ground running when the season resumes in 2023. Nathan talks about the ups of last season, and the frustration of having it end the way it did. We also talk about his squash backstory, meeting Haley Mendez at the world juniors several years back, grueling sparring seasons with George Parker and Joel Makin, and his newfound passion for American sports. Also, Nathan Lake is sponsored by Open Squash, check them out at www.opensquash.org

The season has had its ups and downs, but Mostafa Asal always finds a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He did that once again by finishing the year with a huge win at the tradition laden Hong Kong Open. At 0-2 and 9-10 match ball down, Mostafa played a shot that seemingly only he could pull off, and from that point it was game on. Despite the officiating dramatics, we were treated to tremendous squash the rest of the way with Mostafa proving just how badly he wanted that title. Mostafa talks about the win, the decision to go for that shot at match ball down, and his mental struggles leading up to HK. He also talks about the team that's been behind him for several years, the respect he has for the likes of Paul Coll, Mohammed El Shorbagy and Diego Elias, and he responds to some of the harsh criticism that has been aimed at him in recent months on this podcast and in the Squashmad publication. Many thanks to our tremendous sponsor www.opensquash.org