As we look back at the major Squash developments from 2015, there has been an emerging growth of junior squash participation in Jamaica, Nigeria, and Trinidad & Tobago, as well the continued growth in the United Kingdom.
Why is happening? Well squash is becoming popular as a sport that many inspirational roles models such as Nicol David (below), Ray Armour; which is a boost to those children who don’t strive to become the next football star or become a Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
Nicol David (Photo Credit – mynewsdesk)
Most parents see squash as a respectable sport, and not so expensive compared to other junior sports, such as golf, football, or tennis.
Jamaica – the next Squash nation
For instance, in Jamaica there are many sporting greats to come out of Jamaica; the sports with a high-profile are athletics with Usain Bolt, Rohan Blake, Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; with cricket there is Chris Gayle to name but a few.
However does the outside world know Christopher Binnie? He is the current star of squash in Jamaica, currently ranked 101 in the men’s world rankings – it is obvious his success is a major influence on junior squash in Jamaica. Before him, there was Karen Anderson, who reached no.94 in the women’s world rankings.
The Jamaican Senior Men’s Squash Team (Left to Right) Ashante Smith, Bruce Burrowes, Lewis Walters, Julian Morrison and Chris Binnie.
In 2015, One of key highlights in Squash in the Caribbean was the Jamaican Senior Squash Men’s Team winning the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA).
The Caribbean Association Squash Area (CASA) tournaments are the main driver in getting young people from the island of the Caribbean to take up Squash.
If you have never heard of the CASA tournaments, then it is the same level as any national tournaments and there a junior & senior tournaments held in July and August.
In terms of success, well most of the participants have gone to play in PSA-sanctioned tournaments around the world; notably Karen Anderson and Chris Binnie.
Other Caribbean Squash playing nations
Meanwhile, over in Trinidad & Tobago, there is the emergence of two young junior squash stars both Nicholas Caddle and Christopher Anthony, who are making waves in squash in their country and are now playing in overseas tournaments and flying the flag.
Another continent with an emerging growth of junior squash participation is Africa in 2015; there has been news of strong squash participation at local and regional events in Nigeria.
Whereas in neighbouring Zambia, thanks to investment from a blue-chip company sponsoring junior squash, not only to grow the sport in Nigeria but shows the world the other sporting talents of their country participation in the world’s healthiest sport.
Even at regional level, there has been news on squash players, who are good enough to play in the world stage, which will have a positive impact the junior squash federation to form more squash academies to generate more junior squash participation.
UK Squash primed for growth
Meanwhile, in the UK has seen a rise in junior squash participation – this could be as a result of the lobbying to get the sport into the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but sadly this never happened.
Being a part of the Olympic Games would have been the perfect platform to increase junior squash participation and even introduce the sport to other nations.
Come 2016, it will be good to see Squash receive more recognition like its other racquet sports, in terms of more media coverage, in other word shown more often on normal television channels.
