Squash out of SEA Games Sporting ChanCe
Squash isn’t in the calendar for the next SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Nov. 21-Dec. 2 and what a shame. The other day, eight-time World Open women’s squash champion Nicol David of Malaysia was named the greatest athlete of all-time in the World Games, a distinct honor not only because she’s Asian but also because the quadrennial event, inaugurated in 1981, is participated in by over 100 countries. Although not yet an Olympic sport, squash is widely played all over the world and was listed by Forbes as the healthiest sport with rowing, rock climbing, swimming, crosscountry skiing, basketball, cycling, running, modern pentathlon and boxing next in that order. According to a survey by Men’s Health, squash burns 50 percent more calories than running and more fat than any cardio machine. A 30-minute game eats up about 570 calories. Aside from its value for fitness, squash is just a lot of fun.
Today, squash is played by more than 30 million players on 50,000 courts in 188 countries. Egypt has displaced New Zealand, Australia, England, Canada and Pakistan as the world’s top breeder of squash champions. In the Philippines, squash has become more and more popular through the years.
At the 2019 SEA Games, the Philippines marked a breakthrough by capturing its first-ever gold medal in the sport, tying powerhouse Malaysia with five overall medals of a total 20 at stake. The Philippines pocketed a gold, two silvers and two bronzes in a magical showing.
Philippine Squash Academy president Bob Bachmann tried to lobby for the sport’s inclusion in the SEA Games this year but the SEA Squash Federation couldn’t muster support in time. Now, the focus is to bring back squash to the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. Bachmann’s consolation is his long-time dream of opening public squash courts may soon come true. Mike Sicat, the PSC’s main contractor, confirmed yesterday the resumption of the construction at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex by the second half of this month and installation by March. “The timber floor has arrived with the walls so they’re in storage,” said Bachmann. “The glass back wall was made locally by Pioneer Float Glass Manufacturing. The glass specs, hinges and fittings were imported from CourtTech and are already here. We heard the other day they’ve started to disinfect the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. So maybe COVID-19 patients who were isolated at Rizal have been released and they won’t be receiving any more.”
As for the national players, Bachmann said they’re training on their own, waiting to get back on the court. It’s been a long layoff because of the pandemic and since the Manila Polo Club is closed to guests and outsiders, the players can’t do court work. The momentum created by the SEA Games breakthrough has been stalled but Bachmann said the players are still in high spirits, itching to return to action as soon as the IATF gives the green light.
Regarding the World Games, the Philippines has bagged a gold, five silvers and five bronzes in the event so far. The gold came from cue artist Carlo Biado in nine-ball men’s singles in the last edition in Poland in 2017. There have been 10 stagings of the World Games with two hosted in Asia, by Japan in 2001 and Chinese Taipei in 2009. The next event will be held in Birmingham, US, in 2022 and the 12th in Chengdu, China in 2025. The World Games feature sports not in the Olympics like billiards, bowling, jiu-jitsu, muay thai, powerlifting, dancesport and squash. Sports that were previously in the World Games but are now in the Olympics include karate, taekwondo, badminton, triathlon, rugby 7s and women’s weightlifting.
David, 37, was ranked world No. 1 from 2006 to 2015 and has won 81 titles, including seven in the Asian Games, three in the World Games and two in the Commonwealth Games. She topped the voting for the World Games’ greatest athlete covering all sports in the event’s 40-year history. There were 24 candidates for the award and Nicol was the only Asian. Among the other candidates were Ukraine’s Larysa Soloviova of powerlifting, Sweden’s Sofia Olofsson of muay thai, Moldova’s Gabrielle Goffredo and Anna Matus of dancesport and the US’ Beau Kittredge of flying disc (frisbee)