Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Interviews

Life as a squash pro: ‘We should just spread joy and entertainment’

Melissa Alves, the European silver medallist, had a racket in her hand from the age of five on one of the three courts on Kourou in French Guiana. “It...

Mohamed ElShorbagy: I still have hunger to compete with squash top order

When Mohamed ElShorbagy dipped out of the world’s top five for the first time in a decade, for the Englishman it felt like a...

‘How I got squash fit to beat Jahangir Khan’

“The person who beats Khan will be the person who out-Jahangir's Jahangir!” proclaimed Ross Norman, when asked what it would take to beat the...

Satomi Watanabe: ‘I want to see squash courts in every region of Japan’

Satomi Watanabe’s stellar and emotional win at the Optasia Championships was not only a shot in the arm for Asian squash but for the...

Dimitri Steinmann on Swiss Olympic dreams, bans and speaking his mind

Wimbledon -- As a child growing up in Switzerland, Dimitri Steinmann could only watch 10 minutes of television every day. "I didn’t watch Teletubbies...

How coaching double act is lifting Paul Coll

Rod Martin has revealed that he is working with Paul Coll in a three-way collaboration with the Kiwi and his long-standing coach Rob Owen....

How coach Alison Waters has given Tesni Evans confidence post injury

It is the moment every player dreads. And when injury comes right at the start of the season the impact is even more painful....

Road to 2028 Olympic Squash: One-off events or multi-phase qualification?

He is the man who is likely to play a key part in shaping the landscape of the qualification process for the Los Angeles...

Peter Marshall: How I maintain squash fitness into my 50s

Peter Marshall’s two-fisted style on either wing during his 1990’s pomp, when he reached World No.2, made him one of the most fascinating watches...

‘Squash now has the complete package with Olympics berth’

The great tragedy, of course, is that Geoff Hunt and Jahangir Khan,  two of the greatest ever figures in squash, were denied the opportunity...

Ali Farag: I’m in the form of my life – I can still get better

Six years ago, world No.1 Ali Farag claimed the first of two US open titles sharing a memory he describes as “the best day...

Sister Act: Sabrina Sobhy on song ahead of US Squash Open

Travelling, rooming and sharing laughs together. That’s the sister act which the Sobhys currently enjoy on the PSA World Tour. And for Sabrina Sobhy,...

Where there’s a wall, there’s a way!

Marc Thrill is on a mission to get more people playing squash – but rather than waiting for the public to walk through the...

Squash deep clean: World No 1 Ali Farag backs referee directives

World No. 1 Ali Farag has welcomed the PSA’s initiative to try and address some of the blights -- including blocking and dissent --...

Greg Lobban: ‘I don’t love squash but now I can trouble best’

Greg Lobban is doing it “my way”. So much so that he has become the first Scot since John White 15 years ago to...

Colombian Catalina Pelaez: ‘You have take care of your circumstances and challenges’

While the PSA World Squash Tour has started with the glam and glitz of Platinum events in Paris and Doha, for those players who...

Trust and state of mind – what Mostafa Asal has learned in squash ban

In an impressive admission that change is essential if he is to realise his full potential, Mostafa Asal has revealed the motivations and the...

‘Squash needs to be simplified for juniors – they are our future’

He is the man behind the mic for SquashTV who fronts super-slick coverage of our game from the most prestigious events on the PSA...

‘Mostafa Asal needs to be educated – he’s too exciting to be sidelined’

While Mostafa Asal’s latest ban was also accompanied by a £5,000 fine, following on from the matches at the last season’s World Squash Championships...

‘More structure’: Victor Crouin on referees, directives and squash technology

French squash star Victor Crouin has admitted he will wait to see the “consequences” of Lee Drew’s appointment as head of World Squash Officiating,...

Simon Parke on nose bleeds and dealing with pressures as top junior seed

Simon Parke believes that experience can be the key for Jonah Bryant as he attempts to become only the fourth Englishman to win the...

Exclusive: Mostafa Asal’s new coach Mohamed Elkeiy on movement, referees and ‘that’ racket grab

Mohamed Elkeiy is undaunted by what some might call the hardest job in squash – cleaning up Mostafa Asal’s game. Asal’s entourage has turned to...

Dutchman Rowan Damming on Asperger’s Syndrome and world squash hopes

It is hard enough trying to negotiate the perilous rite of passage from the junior to the senior ranks at world class level in...

‘Mostafa Asal needs major squash title sooner rather than later’

Jahangir Khan believes that Mostafa Asal’s sole focus for next season must be on winning a squash major, with a big summer ahead working...

Taking squash to the people – one club at a time

Despite the work of many passionate people in pockets of the world, squash participation tragically continues to nosedive. Some clubs are managing to buck...

Belief in reserve: How Colombia’s ‘Iron maiden’ Catalina Pelaez defied rankings

There have been many magical moments of drama and emotion in the women’s game this season, but few can have matched the one which...

Nele Gilis closes in on Egyptian speed in season of career highs

She has admitted to playing and coming out the wrong side of a fair share of “3-0 choppings” against Egypt's best, but if ever...

How Open Squash is igniting New Yorkers’ passion for the sport

The key to turning a non-squash player into a passionate participant is to treat every potential new member of your club as “both a...

Coach’s view: How Ali Farag has cemented all-round game to land big prizes

Squash Mad speaks to Karim Darwish, Ali Farag's coach, on tactical changes, career longevity and comparisons with game's greats Ali Farag may have just returned...

‘Squash major investment can help Olympic hopes’

Ali Farag has revealed his delight at the news the Professional Squash Association (PSA) has inked a year-on-year-deal with the Chicago-based philanthropist and multi-sport...

Top of the podium after five years of hell: Peter Knox’s extraordinary squash story

As Peter Knox from Exeter had the World Transplant Games squash gold medal hung around his neck last month in Perth, Australia, he could...

World Squash 2023: Ali Farag chases fourth title and place among greats

For one man, the 2023 PSA World Championships, presented by The Walter family, provides a chance to both create a unique piece of squash...

Edwin Clain: I had to explain rules of squash to my parents

Frenchman Edwin Clain was one of 12 players who grabbed a ticket for the 2023 PSA World Squash Championships. The biggest achievement of his...

Curtis Malik: Sumner is in my heart with everything I do in squash

There are many quotes about overcoming personal tragedy. Yet perhaps that belonging to the relatively unknown American actor and multi-genre singer songwriter Val Uchendu...

“Emotionally, it wasn’t easy…” – Mohamed ElShorbagy on his switch to England

Watch: former world champion and world No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy tells Squash Mad about the 'tough decision' to switch from Egypt to England. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlemqSww_dI As he prepares...

‘As a squash World No.1 you should be sending out a positive message’

On the eve of the British Open which Jahangir Khan made his own as the top-ranked player, the Pakistani great admits he is concerned...

Home British Open squash support will play their part, says Perry

Sarah-Jane Perry says she will be drawing on the memories of her Commonwealth Games bronze medal at Birmingham 2022 when the British Open returns...

British Open Squash 2023: Ali Farag aiming for fourth time lucky

It is the one major title that has eluded him. But, days before he begins his quest to finally capture the British Open, Ali...

Mazen Hesham: Crowd pleasing and beating Ali Farag no longer enough

With upsets at the Optasia Championships, the British Open is looking wide open. It could be a case of last man standing, writes RJ...

Mathieu Castagnet: New chapter beckons for French squash ‘warrior’

At the end of 2022, Mathieu Castagnet announced he was retiring, aged 36. The French Warrior, a nickname that paid tribute to his fighting...

Marine drive: Hot streak Charlie Lee hits form after trophy success

After the best three weeks of his squash career, Englishman Charlie Lee is reflecting on an ongoing season which has ushered in a change...

Sarah-Jane Perry: My base is strong and I’m ready to challenge

Sarah-Jane Perry has revealed that she will be using her greatest triumph as a major source of encouragement when she opens her account in...

Squash closes in on first professional referees

The man responsible for driving the high standard of squash officiating across the world has revealed that the sport is “not far off” having...