This August, Amsterdam’s Frans Otten Stadium hosted the 2024 WSF World Masters Championships and included, for the first time in tournament history, an introduction to squash57.
This offered a unique opportunity to exhibit the fast-growing sport of squash57 to well over a thousand elite squash players from around the world.
Patrick Osborn and John Cordeaux, both seasoned players (with an impressive collection of Singles, Doubles, National, and British Open titles), were invited to showcase squash57 and provide opportunities for elite athletes and spectators to immerse themselves in all that the sport has to offer the global squash community.
On semi-finals day, Osborn and Cordeaux played an exhilarating best of 3 singles match on the all-glass show court, captivating the audience with the aerobic and strategic demands of squash57.
Their exhibition demonstrated how squash57 differs from squash in terms of equipment and highlighted the strategic nuances and distinct flavour of the sport.
Players from around the world were eager to learn more and engaged with Patrick and John to discuss the potential of squash57 to extend and diversify their clubs. Attendees had the opportunity to take home WSF-approved squash57 balls, along with a curated list of websites, blogs, and digital resources to further explore what squash57 has to offer.
The excitement continued on finals day when the duo faced off in a spirited best-of-5 match, effectively a replay of the 2023 British Open 60+ final, that underscored the high level of skill, intensity, and finesse that squash57 requires. After the match, Patrick stayed on court to demonstrate squash57 basics, giving elite squash players a unique opportunity to experience the sport for themselves and better understand why squash57 has become known as the game that is “easy to start, hard to stop”.
The pioneering inclusion of squash57 at the World Masters Championships provided a unique opportunity for elite squash players to discover this dynamic and rapidly growing sport. It has set the wheels in motion for a wider, more inclusive, more varied experience for squash players in their respective squash facilities, regions and countries.
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