In Squash - The Podcast

Since 2002, Adil Maqbool has maintained the UAE's #1 ranking, and after some time away from the pro game he's back playing again. One of the game's most talented with the racket, he's had his hands full over the past few years juggling parenthood duties (father of three), a new business (IT related), and his pro squash aspirations. His squash backstory, teaming up with his father, is unconventional if not intriguing and unique. We talk about this and then get into a wide-ranging discussion on the Super Series finals in Dubai, junior development and how Pakistan can put itself back on the map, a topic in which Rod Gilmore and Alan Thatcher quoted his father Maqbool Khawaja in the book Jahangir Khan 555.

Andrew Douglas is no stranger to representing the US on the big stage. He was part of the US junior men's team that finished 3rd at the World Championships a few years back, and led the University of Pennsylvania to its highest ever finish in 2018/19. Andrew is pumped for the Pan Am Games in Lima, and relishes this opportunity to represent the US in what many feel is squash's Olympics along with the Commonwealth Games. Alongside tour veterans Todd Harrity and Chris Hanson, the US look forward to bringing home the gold in the team event. He was part of the US junior men's team that finished 3rd at the World championships a few years back, and led the University of Pennsylvania to its highest ever finish in 2018/19. Andrew is pumped for the Pan Am Games in Lima, and relishes this opportunity to represent the US in what many feel is squash's Olympics along with the Commonwealth Games. Alongside tour veterans Todd Harrity and Chris Hanson, the US look forward to bringing home the gold in the team event.

Framboise Gommendy has covered the professional game at its highest levels for several generations now. Squashsite (run by Fram and Steve Cubbins)is the go to online squash news source for the global squash community, and it's Fram's intimate, passionate, and blow by blow journalistic approach that gives squashsite that special appeal. Fram and I cover a lot of ground, from her early years as an aspiring actress to what she thought of the 2018/19 season; in fact she interviews me to kick things off which was a real treat. Her impassioned and emotional tributes to those that retired this year. players that in her words she watched grow up, are one of the several highlights of this delightful chat.

Following in the footsteps of French greats like Thierry Lincou and Gregory Gaultier, Gregoire Marche has stepped things up in 2018/19 with the best squash of his career. A win at last weeks Montpellier Open over James Willstrop along with the Pittsburgh Open (his biggest win to date) earlier in the year, Gregoire finds himself on the cusp of breaking into the world's top 10. We have a great chat about how he's arrived at this point in his career, and a few anecdotes about his golf and Twitter games.

University of Rochester stand out Ryosei Kobayashi is a talent that you don't want to miss. Winner of the prestigious US varsity squash Skillman Award, Ryosei decided to forego pro squash for a crack at the private sector; seemingly it was just a brief bit of respite as he's hit the ground running in his first year on tour. Winning a few satellite PSA events along with several wins over players ranked 100 spots above him, Ryosei has his sights firmly set on success as a pro squash player. You want to buy stock in this guy, a talent with the type of energy that one rarely sees.

Founder and GM of Infinitum Squash, Chessin Gertler has parlayed his successful junior and collegiate squash playing days into a squash business and development model that is most certainly making inroads. Chessin, who teamed up with Infinitum Director of Squash Nick Taylor in 2017, is one of squash's young outliers; His approach to developing the game across the board is showing promising results. We discuss this approach and how Infinitum Squash came to be following his playing days. Then there is our mutual affinity with Korea.

2018/2019 has been a campaign of new heights for Saurav Ghosal. Saurav became the first-ever Indian male to win the Asian Championships a few short weeks ago, and in April he reached the world's top 10 for the first time. Saurav explains that it took a certain wherewithal and perseverance to get there though, and his explanation of this journey is awesome. His relationship with Malcom Willstrop is obviously a huge reason behind this success, as are the recent tweaks under the guidance of David Palmer. Saurav and I talk about this and many other aspects related to his journey to the PSA top 10. Also, you don't want to miss his stirring tribute to Ramy Ashour.

Since 1976, Andrew Shelley has been laying the groundwork for developing the game of squash, and he took this skill set to the highest level in 2010 when he became WSF CEO. His list of accomplishments in terms of what he's done to grow our great game are too long to mention here. He leaves his WSF post in June, and it was great to speak with Andrew about his squash experience to date, what he accomplished in his SRA, WISPA and WSF roles, and he even shared a few great anecdotes in doing so.

Two time US National Champion, proud New Yorker, and current world #68 Chris Hanson graced the podcast with his presence on Episode 83. He lit up the TOC this year with a great first round win followed by a near upset of world #16 Omar Mosad. Currently with Rodney Martin in his corner, and Rodney Eyles and John Power Sr previously, there's good reason to believe that results like this are bound to come more consistently. First things first though, the US are looking to bring the Pan Am Games squash team gold back home this summer.

For squash players who grew up playing the game in the 80s, we grew up idolizing Jahangir Khan, and synonymous with Jahangir was his iconic coach Rahmat Khan. Rahmat helped guide Jahangir to a record 10 British Open titles, and the backstory behind their success is one we can all learn from. Rahmat describes the challenges Jahangir had early on following the death of his brother Torsem, and how this ultimately laid the groundwork for the unwavering discipline, focus and professionalism that characterized the Jahangir/Rahmat partnership throughout the years. Rahmat talks of the Jansher v. Jahangir rivalry,JK's highly successful foray into the North American hardball scene, how JK managed to remain injury free through all those years, the current state of squash in Pakistan, and his take on the current era of squash.

Squash renaissance man Richard Millman is fighting the good fight, and always has been. Richard emerged in the US several years back and has embarked on an incredible squash journey that currently has him as the teaching pro at a squash club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, not exactly a squash hotbed which is why Richard is there. Richard is an outlier, always pushing the envelope, and through all of the initiatives, insights, and an incredible backstory you will definitely see why.

Tribute to Andy Bunting by Neil Harvey

2019 Bermuda Open champion and friend of the podcast Nick Sachvie joined me for his "3rd" visit, and there was lots to talk about. Nick is fresh off a few good wins after some up and down results earlier in the season, and we look at how this all played out. Over the next few months Nick has plenty to play for, including a shot at his 2nd Canadian National title and the potential of a Pan Am Games border skirmish with the US this summer. We also take the opportunity to talk about our mutual love for MMA, and in doing so we discuss what the PSA does in terms of policing PEDs in our sport. Great chat with Nick!!

2 time British National Champion and current world number 10, Tesni Evans is one of the reasons why the women's game has become must-watch squash these days. Tesni describes her season to date, how it felt regaining the British National Championship and becoming the first Welsh player (male or female) to win the Brit Nationals. We also talk about the Empower Squash Foundation and the first season in the PSL for the Welsh Wizards.

Grasshopper Cup 2019 is upon us and event organizer Steve Buchli has put together another fantastic event.

Miguel Rodriquez's incredible 2018 British Open run was unquestionably the story of the 2018 squash year. Behind that win there was blood, sweat, tears and plenty between the ears. Between the ears is where Maxim P. Weithers came into the picture, close to 10 years ago in fact. Maxim tells us how this all evolved and provides some great insight into mental techniques that helped to pave the way to Miguel's stunning British Open victory. Maxim also has his own squash story which we get into, including his relationship with Jahangir and Rahmat Khan, and I also get his thoughts on olympic bid.

Fresh off his first PSA title win at the Guifoyle PSA Squash Classic in Toronto, David Baillargeon is putting in the work to take his squash to the next level. Recently relocated to Bristol with Hadrian Stiff's Elite Squash Team, David talks about his squash roots in the Canadian hotbed of Quebec, Montreal in particular. It was there that he began working with his long time coach, Canadian coaching guru Yvon Provencal. We talk plenty about this, his move to the UK, and near the end I cheekily solicit a Shawn Delierre anecdote and David did not disappoint.

Lead writer for Squash Player Magazine Rod Gilmour is all over the recent Olympic bid setback; he sheds light on Nick Matthew's suggestion that legal action against the IOC should be taken. Rod has also co-authored one of the best squash stories out there, Shot and a Ghost along with James Willstrop; we talk about James and how he sees the next few years playing out for him. Some great content here with Rod on Ep. 74.

Christopher Gordon's longevity at the top of US men's professional squash has been nothing less than impressive, and he has his sites set on more wins and more titles going forward. Chris and I talk about his backstory in US squash, a big win over Simon Rosner in the German Jr. Open, the renaissance in US squash which ultimately led to the huge developments we see there today, his love of hockey, and how pumped he is for this next stage of his pro career. Great chat with Chris.

Alan Thatcher has been an integral part of the world squash scene for as long as I can remember. The founder of squashmad.com talks with me about squash's most recent Olympic bid setback, his baby Canary Wharf which is set to kick off in less than two weeks, and World Squash Day which he founded in 2012 in the aftermath of the World Trade Center 9/11 tragedy.