As the millennium comes to a close (actually, the millennium doesn’t officially end until midnight on December 31, 2000; but I’ll try not to kill the party), there were a number of fantastic squash happenings. I’d like to share with you my top squash memories for this past year. There are eight of them, and as always, feel free to argue.
1. The Best Men’s Squash Rivalry since Hunt-Khan
They don’t really like each other very much. They are complete opposites in temperament and approach. And they each were ranked number one at least twice this past year. Canada’s fiery Jon Powers and Scotland’s gentleman Peter Nicol have produced a rivalry that squash hasn’t seen since the short-lived Geoff Hunt versus Jahangir Khan back in 1981. The really cool thing is: this one could last awhile. Hang on and enjoy.
2. Demer Holleran Says “Not Yet”
Forced to choose between coaching her team and defending her national title in 1998, Demer, the UPenn Women’s Squash coach, chose her team. The women’s intercollegiate championships were the same weekend as the Nationals, and – without Demer around -- Latasha Khan took home the National title with relative ease. There were those who said that it was lucky for Demer that she hadn’t been there, for her time probably was through. Before the 1999 Nationals, Demer had forty sessions with a personal trainer, and when she won back “her” trophy (by convincingly beating Khan in the finals), Demer showed the world that only she would decide when she was through.
3. The British Open Lives On
Squash’s premier event almost died, but instead, it will be the final major Pro event of the Millennium. It is somehow fitting.
4. Peter Marshall Wins The Pakistan Open
England's Peter Marshall, the unique two-handed player, achieved one of the most remarkable comebacks in squash by winning the Pakistan Open in Karachi to become the first Briton to win the title for 30 years. It was Marshall's first major PSA Tour title win since the Portuguese Open in March 1993. After reaching the British Open final in April 1995 -- becoming the world No2 and England's highest-ever ranked player – he came down with 'chronic fatigue syndrome' and disappeared from sight. But the popular 28-year-old from Nottingham, has battled back. He was a qualifier in Karachi - the first ever to reach the Pakistan Open final - and he overcame the Pakistan No1, currently ranked 95 places above him in the world in the finals. Welcome back, Peter. Can’t wait to see you.
5. The US Junior Women Stun The World at the Worlds
Four amazing young women believed what no one else thought possible: that their team could finish in the top four or five in the world. Not only did their seeding not reflect that, it wasn’t even close; they were seeded tenth. But then they kept winning. And before long, they actually had a shot at fourth, and they managed to finish fifth. That’s fifth in the world. Louisa Hall, Michelle Quibell, Ali Pearson and Amy Gross (average age: 15) showed that US Women’s squash has a bright -- potentially very bright -- future.
6. Paul Assaiante’s Coaching Double
Paul Assaiante recruited, trained and coached the undefeated Trinity team in intercollegiate squash, and he found a way to get the chronically underachieving US Men’s team to reverse its eight-year-long decline and fight back to 18th in the world. Pretty good motivator, I’d say.
7. Egypt Takes the World Title on its Home Turf
As Ahmed Barada continued his climb into the world top five, he helped squash become the number one sport in Egypt. How great that Barada also helped bring Egypt its first world title in any sport; how perfect that it happened while Egypt was hosting its first world championship.
8. David McNeely, Collegian, takes National Title
In the first year that the date of Nationals was changed to accommodate collegiate players, David McNeely, Amherst’s Number One man, beat a number of seasoned pros on his way to the title and served notice that there is a youth movement ahead.
It was a good year, a good decade, a good century for squash. Let the new millennium begin (it’s only a year away…)
