As part of a collaboration between the World Squash Federation (WSF) and the Chinese Squash Association (CSA), top coach Ashraf Hanafi was invited to visit China to observe the country’s growing squash scene, give guidance to coaches and organizers as well as get on court with many of the top juniors.
Hanafi, a WSF Level 2 Tutor and member of the WSF Coaching Commission, delivered lectures and presentations in Shanghai, Tianjin and Shenzhen, as well as visiting the Royal Marshall Squash Club and Qiaocheng Squash Club, during his trip organised by FindingSquash.
Hanafi first observed the junior national event in Shanghai, which saw talented junior players from all over China compete across a range of age groups. Reporting afterwards, Hanafi said there is a solid foundation in place for junior players, highlighting the players’ athleticism and work-rate for praise. He added that for a country still in the early stages of its long-term squash strategy, this was encouraging and that further improvements and support could see even greater returns.
The most eye-catching development in recent years in China has been the explosion of new state-of-the-art squash facilities, with Hangzhou’s ‘Crystal Palace’ of eight all-glass show courts used for the 19th Asian Games in 2023 just one of numerous spectacular facilities built in recent years, while work is ongoing in Chengdu as the city prepares to host squash as part of The World Games 2025.
“Before I even saw the level of play, I was really surprised with the facilities here,” Hanafi admitted.
“They have modern glass courts being built everywhere. Squash is booming in China with a lot of very good ex badminton, table tennis and tennis players. Plus they have a very young generation of kids aged between 8 – 11 years old, as well as a strong number in all other age categories”
China has already heavily invested in the sport with magnificent facilities being built all across the country, largely by rapidly growing court specialists CGG Squash, who are perhaps best known outside of China for building the magnificent new show court at Houston Squash Club, used for this year’s WSF World Junior Championships.
Following the news that Squash will become an Olympic sport at the LA28 Olympic Games, court production has gone into overdrive, with existing facilities being upgraded and new ones being built rapidly and already attracting some of the world’s top coaches, including former US national coach Ong Beng Hee, who has moved to China’s capital Beijing to head up the new Dream Squash academy.
“LA28 will help China massively. Squash will be included in the national sports program which means it is under the umbrella of the [Chinese] Olympic Committee. This comes with a huge amount of care and investment, all in the pursuit of medals in future,” Hanafi explained.
The Egyptian added that he’d had a very positive meeting with officials from the CSA, which focused on advising how China could continue to improve their level in squash. Lectures were organised for coaches and players to discuss the most important tools in squash and how to improve all aspects of their regimes.
“Their feedback was great and they have great potential as a professional organisation. China is ready to get more experience and the WSF will support China and I am sure they will be in a different level of squash sooner than expected.”
Imagery courtesy of FindingSquash – click here to find out more and to watch a video roundup of Ashraf Hanafi’s trip.
Find out more about squash in China.
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