Since starting grad school a few years ago, I have been playing the
game of squash
very regularly (perhaps too regularly!) Squash is an indoor racquet
sport played with a small rubber ball. Players alternate hitting the
ball with their racquets so that it bounces against the front wall,
and doesn't bounce on the floor twice. In this way it is
superficially similar to racquetball (though squash is much better
:). The game demands extraordinary levels of fitness, coordination,
and mental toughness. The ball and racquets allow for an amazing
variety of shotmaking and deception from anywhere on the court. Also,
the court's small size means that players must constantly move around
each other to retrieve the next shot, which necessitates good
footwork and shot anticipation.
When I first started with squash, I could barely play a game without
huffing and puffing, even though I'd been running, playing tennis and
many other sports. Now, I'm still huffing and puffing, but I can't
get enough of it! Currently I'm the Equipment Officer of our
University's illustrious Squash Club, and am very
active in the National
Capital Squash league for the Washington DC area, which our team
has dominated for the past few years. Currently I'm captaining our
Division 3 team. I've also played in a few local tournaments,
including several sponsored by our club.
If you want to sweat, give squash a try! Also, please drop me a line if you share my enthusiasm or have comments.
Tournament Results
| Event | Where | Draw | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito Open 2011 | Washington, DC | Men's 4.5 | Quarterfinal |
| Fisher Cup 2011 | Washington, DC | Men's 4.5 | Runner Up |
| Lucky Boast V, 2010 | College Park, MD | Advanced | Third place (of 16) |
| Fisher Cup 2010 | Washington, DC | Men's 4.0 | Quarterfinal |
| Lucky Boast IV, 2009 | College Park, MD | Advanced | Winner, Consolation Draw |
| Potomac Fever X, 2009 | Bethesda, MD | Men's 4.0 | Runner Up |
| Lucky Boast III, 2008 | College Park, MD | Advanced | Winner, Consolation Draw |
| Lucky Boast I, 2006 | College Park, MD | Beginner | Semifinal, Consolation Draw |
League Results
Our league teams have won National Capital Squash titles in:
- Winter 2011, Division 3
- Winter 2011, Division 4
- Summer 2010, Division 4
- Summer 2008, Division 3
- Winter 2008, Division 4
- Summer 2007, Division 5
Useful Links
- SquashTalk Training Room
- SquashClub.org e-Lessons
- Coach Kayler's Squash Tips
- Squash Tips from the Khans
- Squash Game Library
- Donald Rumsfeld plays hardball (I've played several times on the “Rumsfeld court” at the Pentagon in league matches)
- Squash Healthiest Sport Says Forbes Magazine
- Some Squash Poetry
- Squash Buddies
- The Eradicator!
–David Palmer, former World Champion