In squash - The Podcast

The French General is back! Close to 16 months away from the competitive game, and Gregory is chomping at the bit to get back into the swing of things. He knows he's not going to hit the ground sprinting, but he's fired up to get back to the top of the game, which is where he left us in Oct. 2018. Gregory is Washington D.C. for the World Team Championships along with the rest of a very talented and hungry French squad, and then it's off to the TOC in NYC for his long awaited PSA return. Enjoy this bit of catch up with the French General.

Sleep, eat and breathe squash; that's Ehsan's advice to us all. Ep 115 is unlike any other, and say what you want about this guy, there's no questioning his dedication and love for the game of squash. Ehsan has had a squash journey like none other, from his backyard training to his "meteoric" rise up the Pakistani national rankings to his Barringtonesque "Murder on the Squash Court" approach that he hopes will take him to the promised land, Ehsan is a breath of fresh air if you ask me.

Cornell #1 and current world #42 Sivasangari Subramanium is balancing academics and professional squash these days, and she's definitely got her head around it. With wins over several players ranked in the world's top 20, Sivasangari has found that balance b/t her studies, varsity squash and her pro game. It wasn't always the case though as Sivasangari lays out on this episode. It took a while to come to terms with stepping away from the PSA full-time. She's ready to roll now though, and we talk about all of this along with her rivalry with Hania El Hammamy and much more.

The Channel VAS Championship is just around the corner, and event organizer and St. George's Hill Head Squash Professional Danny Lee drops by to set the stage and provide a bit of a backstory. Former top 30 pro player, Danny has ruled the roost at St. George's Hill for the past 30 years, and obviously it's a venue and a squash setting that he holds very dear to his heart. On top of that, he gets to live out just about every boy's childhood dream of being the lead man for a rock band; the Danny Lee Band. Danny and I touch on all of the above on ep. 113.

Not many on the PSA tour have a cv as impressive as Amanda Sobhy's. Currently #8, Amanda has shown that she's more than capable of challenging for the #1 spot in the world, and one look at her record till now would tell you she's trending in that direction. From world jr. champion, 4 time US varsity individual champion and currently a top 10 ranking on the tour, Amanda's always a threat at the major events. And then, she's also got her vocal talents and Twitter game as equally impressive sidelines.

The squash world today knows PJ for his insight and color on SquashTV, but we must not forget that as a player he was top 5 in the world, and a man who had epic battles with greats from several generations. PJ gives his insight and forecast on the 2019/20 season to date, the current state of officiating, whether or not there's a dearth of characters in the game and much more.

England #1 and World #20 look great on paper, but for Declan James he's upped the ante. Declan's had an impressive few years recently, and now he's looking to take things a step further. It's been a busy few months to start the season, and currently he's spending time back home consolidating for the upcoming Men's World Championships and the Men's World Teams thereafter. Always a great chat with the Dark Knight.

Chairman of the PSA since 2008, President of the Saudi Arabia Squash Federation and sponsor to many top pros over the years dating back to Michelle Martin, Ziad Al Turki has dedicated his life to the game of squash. From growing the game in the Middle East to growing the professional game globally, the Sultan of Squash has spearheaded many of the great initiatives globally and nationally. Globally, he's been instrumental in paving the way for PSA Squash TV, gender pay equity on the PSA tour and prize money at its highest level. In Saudi Arabia, he was the man behind the first ever women's professional sports event (A PSA tour event), and he's laying the groundwork a grassroots squash movement in the country which is bearing fruit already.

The 2019/20 campaign has gotten off to a impressive start for Mike McCue; two consecutive finals appearances and a win under his belt. Mike's looking to build on that this season and take his game to the next level. Disappointed at not having made Team Canada's Pan Am Games Team, he's got a chance to earn a spot on Canada's World Team Championships team at the upcoming team trials. Mike and I talk about his career to date, the struggles he's had getting to that next level, and our mutual squash idol, a certain Jonathan Power.

World #21 and 2019 British National Championship runner up Emily Whitlock does not disappoint on Episode 107. Our conversation ran the gamut of her squash playing career to date, including inside how the player/coach relationship manifests itself with her father Philip Whitlock, a former world top 10 himself. We also take a look at her pro career to date, and the stand she took in 2017 by refusing to participate in the PSA's Saudi Arabia women's event. We do get into the lighter side of things as she explains her love for "Love Island" and what she thinks of Declan James' choice of breakfast fuel.