In squash - The Podcast

Squash Mad's RJ Mitchell returns to the Pod on the eve of the British Open to break it all down, and to talk about his Squash Mad interview with the great Jahangir Khan. Check out our sponsor www.opensquash.org

Uncertain as to whether he'd ever play PSA squash again, Karem Abdel Gawad let it be known via his Optasia Championship victory that he's well on his way back to the form that saw him win the World Championship and reach world #1 in 2017. Karem talks about his Optasia success, and the brutal heel injury and the complicated journey back to playing squash again. Great chat with the baby-faced assassin. Check out our sponsor, www.opensquash.org and you can reach me at [email protected] if you'd like to reach out.

Tomato Ho's 2022/23 campaign has been eye opening to say the least. Currently ranked #32, she's had big wins over the likes SJ Perry, Tesni Evans, Jasmine Hutton and in doing so has reached the semis in Cleveland and Calgary, and the last 16 at the TOC. On top of that, Tomato (Tze Lok) recently changed her name for PSA purposes, and she tells the incredible story behind the change. We also take a deep dive into her breakout season, Hong Kong squash, and we also talk about her squash idol, James Willstrop. Please check out our sponsor www.opensquash.org and for comments on the podcast or to reach out, contact Gerry at [email protected]

We're at the business end of the 2022/23 PSA with the British Open and World Championships just around the corner. PSA CEO Alex Gough joins the pod to talk about what he describes as perhaps the busiest season in PSA history. We also talk officiating in terms of what Lee Drew and the team have been facing and the move to have paid full-time officials on tour. Also, we get into the Olympic bid, the PSA Foundation, the Challenger Series, qualifying for the World Champs, and of course that elephant in the room the Mostafa Asal ban. Check out our sponsor Open Squash at www.opensquash.org

When Jonathon Power made his mark on the pro tour by winning the 1996 Tournament of Champions, the years that followed were unlike anything professional squash had witnessed prior. JP emerged as a real breath of fresh air; a braggadocios brand of squash, appealing both in terms of the squash itself and the theater that JP brought with it. Jethro Binns and the fellas at Squash Skills capture all of this in their 3 Part Jonathon Power documentary, a documentary which was long overdue. Jethro and I take a JP deep dive talking about the JPs early years which are the focus of Part 1 right up to the 1996 TOC. We also look ahead to part 2: the JP /Peter Nicol rivalry. Jethro also gives his thoughts on the Mostafa Asal ban at the end of the episode. Great chat with Jethro and also many thanks to www.opensquash.org for sponsoring the pod.

Danny Lee talks about the event that he has put so much time and effort into over the years, the Optasia Squash Championship, previously named the Chanel VAS Championships. Danny talks about this year's event, his son Charlie's first round win, world #1 implications and of course some more great anecdotes about "The Shark". Please check out what's going on at Open Squash at www.opensquash.org

On September 16th, 2022, Alex Preston and Michael Pearce played squash for 40 hours, 1 minute and 59 seconds, breaking the world record by 2 minutes. Alex Preston talks about the record, where the idea was borne from, the prep, the team involved, the marathon itself, and the aftermath. Alex and I flesh out this accomplishment, and everything in and around it is mind-blowing; a tremendous chat about a tremendous accomplishment. I also give my recap of Canary Wharf at the conclusion of my chat with Alex. For all the details on the world record, check out this link: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-squash-marathon-(singles)

Many thanks to our sponsor www.opensquash.org

Charlie Lee is making his move; winner of two Challenger Series events within the past month, including the Guilfoyle Classic in Toronto, Charlie's got is sights set on riding this wave on up the PSA rankings. Charlie and I have chill out Canadian style as he's been acclimatizing to life in the Great White North for the past few weeks. We talk about his Guilfoyle win and his win in Philly previously, his battles with fatigue and adjustments he had to make, the impact his dad Danny Lee has had on his growth along with his older brother Joe and Tom Richards. We also talk about the Optasia Classic event coming up at the end of the month at his home in London. Great chat and first podcast effort with Charlie Lee. Please check out our Sponsor www.opensquash.org

The in form player on women's tour right now has to be Olivia Clyne; a tremendous February has arguably been the best squash of her career. We have a great chat about her growth as player over the past year, both physically and mentally. We also talk about her string of great results, Team USA's amazing second place finish at the World Teams and US Women's squash in general, and a discussion about on the recent on court behavior issues at junior events. Check out our sponsor www.opensquash.org

The sights were set on gold from well before the games, and to make it happen is a testament to the player/coach relationship Ben Ford and Gina Kennedy have established for several years now. Ben talks about his growth as a professional coach, the early days with Gina, her injury struggles before and after the games, and his thoughts on the women's game. Great chat and many thanks to www.opensquash.org