Throughout my fairly long life, I’ve tried a lot of things. From real sports in the physical world to thrilling and successful bets in online casinos Premier league highlights at 22Bet. I swam, played tennis and table tennis, and even climbed mountains. What do I regret now? That I didn’t play squash my whole life. I just didn’t know much about it back then.
Why squash specifically?
Squash helps with:
- Improving the cardiovascular and respiratory systems;
- Building endurance;
- Enhancing coordination;
- Increasing flexibility and muscle stretch;
- Developing the ability to make quick strategic decisions.
What’s interesting about squash?
In squash, the main goal is to hit the ball so that it bounces off the front wall of the squash court. To decide who serves first, players usually toss a coin. Turns are taken to hit the ball. Side shots make the game unpredictable and add thrilling moments. These shots require sharp focus and good coordination from the opponent.
The aim is to hit the ball in a way that forces your opponent to make a mistake or fail to return the shot. Points are awarded when this happens. The first player to reach 11 points wins the game. A squash match typically consists of three or five games, depending on what the players or organizers decide (e.g., in tournaments).
Sometimes the rules can be slightly adjusted to make the game shorter. For example, a game might be played to just 7 points.
Squash is played with special rackets and a ball. If you plan to play, you’ll need comfortable sports shoes that won’t leave marks on the court.
Squash combines elements of sports like tennis, table tennis, badminton, and even billiards. It’s worth noting that squash requires two to three times more energy than tennis.
Initially, the game was called “squash rackets” because of the soft, squishy ball (from the English word “squashable”).
Squash evolved from games that used rackets, gloves, and balls. In 16th-century France, children used to hit balls against walls in narrow streets. Later, similar games were played in French monasteries, where monks would stretch a fishing net across the courtyard. This eventually led to the invention of early rackets (for both squash and tennis). Over time, squash spread to other European countries. By the early 20th century, it had become popular in schools, clubs, and private courts. In 1928, the Squash Association was founded in the UK to set the game’s standards. Soon after, squash became popular worldwide, and today, squash courts can be found in 148 countries.
Squash is an exciting game that doesn’t require any special skills and is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. You can play squash all year round since it’s always played indoors.
A squash ball is a special round object used for playing squash. These balls are made by gluing together two rubber pieces, and the rubber is polished after assembly to create a smooth, matte surface. The unique properties of the rubber allow the squash ball to increase its speed and bounce as it heats up, making the game progressively more challenging.
A squash court is a specially designed sports area for playing squash.
Squash is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. In most areas where it is played at a highly competitive level, the sport is thriving. What was once known as a game only for the wealthy has now become more accessible to people of all income levels.
As the sport grows and attracts new players, the three leading countries where squash thrives are:
- The United States
- Egypt
- England
Although squash is popular in many other countries, these three are the most prominent and produce the most famous and consistent champions in competitions.
Squash in the United States
As squash becomes more popular in the United States, they have introduced several new tournaments, including the biggest new one, the U.S. Open Doubles Squash Championship. The U.S. is also home to the U.S. Open Squash Championship, which is one of the most important competitions in the world.
As competition grows, so does the need for more squash courts, and this is exactly what’s happening in the U.S. – new courts are being built across the country, encouraging more people to take up the sport. Another sign that squash is thriving in the U.S. is the younger age group of new players, which gives them more time for proper training and competitions.
With so many juniors interested in squash, it’s no surprise that colleges have also adapted to its growing popularity. Many Ivy League schools now offer financial aid packages to elite squash players.
Squash is becoming more popular in Egypt.
With some of the world’s best players coming from Egypt, it’s no surprise that squash is thriving in the country. Inspired by these champions, young players are working harder than ever to reach the elite level of squash competitions. Many also aim for scholarships offered by colleges in the United States to play the sport.
Currently, Egyptian players hold two top spots in the World Rankings. Mohamed Elshorbagy is ranked as the number one squash champion, while Amr Shabana is in fourth place. For a country smaller in size and with less access to squash facilities compared to places like the United States or England, this is a huge achievement.
Success isn’t just limited to men. In the Women’s Squash Association, Raneem El Welily holds the number two spot, and Nour El Tayeb is ranked fifth.
Egypt’s dominance in squash is only going to grow as the country continues to produce world-class players. Squash is thriving there.
England – The Home of Squash
It’s no surprise that squash continues to thrive in England. As the birthplace of the sport, the country actively supports it at both competitive and recreational levels. Squash is taught in many schools and colleges, so kids start playing at a young age. This gives them more time to practice and improve their skills.
According to the May world rankings from the Professional Squash Association, England’s Nick Matthew is ranked second. In the Women’s Squash Association rankings, Alison Waters and Laura Massaro hold third and fourth place, respectively.
In a country where many athletes are top-ranked and win world titles, squash is accessible to almost everyone. It’s one of England’s favorite sports, and its popularity keeps growing.
Squash is Taking Over the World
While the USA, Egypt, and England are leaders in squash development, its popularity isn’t limited to these countries. People all over the world play squash both competitively and for fun.
France, Germany, and Colombia also boast top players in the May world rankings. In the Women’s Squash Association, the strongest players represent Malaysia, France, Hong Kong, Australia, Ireland, and India. Although many top players come from these countries, squash is now played in 185 countries worldwide.
The secret to its success is simple – the sport is truly flourishing. There are over 50,000 squash courts around the globe, with more being built as the sport gains popularity. If this trend continues, squash could one day become as common a family activity as baseball or tennis.
