In squash - The Podcast

Gary Nisbet from Unique Fitness Solutions returns to the pod to share his 10 non-negotiables for squash training and nutrition—insights that will sharpen your game and elevate your preparation.

Your host also breaks down the epic Qatar Classic showdown between Jonah Bryant and Mohamed Zakaria, while weighing in on the growing issue of referees handing out inconsequential warnings to players.

After nearly a year away from the PSA tour, Sabrina Sobhy returns as the top seed at this week’s Nash Cup. We catch up with her four years after her first appearance on the pod, reflecting on her recent comeback at the London Classic, the challenges of her hand/wrist injury, the Nash Cup and its stacked draw and what it took to fight her way back onto the tour.

Adam Hawal has quickly become one of squash’s brightest young stars after stunning the squash world by taking down former World No.1 and London Classic champion Paul Coll—despite being ranked more than 200 spots lower in the PSA rankings. As a result of his Egyptian Open escapades, he's launched himself close to 150 spots up in the rankings to world 114. In this episode, Adam and I dive into his breakout run at the Egyptian Open, his journey through the junior ranks, the role models who inspire him, and his future plans—including whether he’ll follow in Ali Farag’s footsteps and pursue the U.S. college squash route.

The Nash Cup is only a few days away, and Yahya Elnawasany joins us to talk about his 3rd appearance in this iconic Canadian PSA event. This time around, he's seeded 1, but the draw is stacked with some tremendous young talent. We talk about the Yahya's impressive junior career, junior days in Egypt, making inroads on the PSA tour, his epic 5 game thriller v. Yousef Ibrahim at the World champs last year, and of course, the Nash Cup. Great chat.

For 17 years, the Nash Cup has been lighting up London, Ontario, showcasing some of the very best talent in the game. At the heart of it all is Jay Nash—the host, the driving force, and the visionary behind this world-class event. In this episode, we dig into his backstory, the birth of the Nash Cup, how it’s grown into one of squash’s must-see tournaments, and what’s in store for this year’s edition featuring some of the brightest young stars on the circuit.

The Squash Summit 2025 kicks off in just a few days, ahead of the first Diamond event of the PSA season — the CIB Egyptian Open. Joining me is Adriana Olaya, Head of the PSA Foundation and the driving force behind this year’s summit.

The theme? The secret to Egypt’s squash success — from grassroots to the PSA tour. Adriana breaks it all down in this episode.

After many head scratching years of wondering why pro league squash hadn't taken off in the US, Fernando Valdizan along with co-founders Spencer Lovejoy and Timmy Brownell have put something truly special together with the National Squash League. The NSL is set for it's 3rd season after 2 incredibly successful previous editions. Fernando and I talk about how this all came together, what it means for squash overall, expansion, and much more.

Class is now in session. Rob Dinerman has forgotten more about the history of squash than I’ll ever know—apart from maybe Jonah Barrington—but few speak or write as eloquently about our beloved game as Rob.

In this episode, he delivers a tremendous recap of U.S. College Squash’s 2025 season alongside highlights from the latest U.S. pro hardball doubles circuit.

He’s also been busy off the court: within the past year, Rob has published two new books—Racquets at Rest and Racquets and Rivalries. He takes us inside both works, which you can find on Amazon

Fresh off an impressive showing at the 2025 World Junior Championships, US Junior National Team Director Karim Ibrahim joins us to share his thoughts on the team’s performance and the event itself. Additionally, he discusses what makes Amina Orfi and Mohamad Zakaria so exceptional, weighs in on whether the gap between Egypt and the rest of the world is growing, and takes us inside the game of his uber-talented younger brother, world #10 Yousef Ibrahim.

🎙️ Episode 365 is live!

He’s coached world #1s, world champions, and some of the biggest title winners in the game — Haitham Effat is arguably the most successful coach on the pro squash tour.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Haitham shares his coaching journey and what it’s been like working with some of the sport’s biggest stars over the past decade. He dives into his relationships with such greats like Nouran Gohar, Tarek Momen, Nour El Tayeb, and Raneem El Welily — and what it takes to guide players at the highest level.

A must-listen for squash fans and aspiring coaches alike! 🧠🔥