TV coverage and joint events road to Olympic recognition: Gough (CEO, PSA)

Alex Gough, former world No 5 from Wales, says increased TV coverage and joint men's and women's events are the road-map for Olympic recognition for squash. The new CEO of the Professional Squash Association talks about the state of sport.

Excerpts from the interview :

How was the Mumbai experience?
The crowd was fantastic it was amazing to see kids rooting, the atmosphere was fantastic.


Alex Gough

In your new job what's your vision for the sport?

The message from the IOC is clear. They want us to get more TV exposure than at present. We are in the process of signing up with Sunset Vine in Europe and Total Sports in Asia. Cricket, remember got big because of TV.

Are you happy with the way women's squash is growing?
It is okay. PSA is aiming at joint events. We are in the process of signing an MOU with WISPA. That would be a big step towards the Olympic goal. 

Which new nations are on the upswing?
There's India. Saurav reached the second round which vindicates this view. In Europe, Spain and Portugal came in the top ten. A Spanish player also made the top ten. There's just Julian Illingworth in the US whose squash is too-much Ivy League-oriented. Their girls are doing better than boys. 

The big question, China?
If it was an Olympic sport they would have been right up there by now. It will take time. We will have to make them look at squash differently.

Why Pakistan squash has slumped?
Even in the days of Jahangir and Jansher they didn't have a lot many class players. Just those two incredible champions. It was a tough act to follow. Maybe the hunger players of that time had isn't there now. Squash was a ladder up to prosperity. Things are more comfortable for them today, the economic level has gone up. That explains the lack of depth.

Finally what makes Egypt tick?
Things began happening after Ahmed Barada came on the scene. They turned him into a super star like David Beckham. The newspaper Al Ahram was sponsoring him, the media hype was big and it has sustained. Cairo is like a full country crammed in one city. There are any number of class players, they enjoy playing against one another day in and day out, their internal competition is tremendous and from that comes quality. 


Ziad Al Turki

  

Mumbai squash fans keep players motivated as in Cairo: PSA chief Zaid Al Turki

India must not stop after holding this mega squash event the $152,000 Punj Lloyd Masters, says Zaid Al Turki, the Saudi chairman of the Professional Squash Association. Having staged PSA events in Saudi Arabia, a minor squash nation, for five years now, Turki says it is only after watching quality squash that children will be inspired to see a future for themselves in the sport.

Excerpts from the interview: 

What was the experience of watching an Indian event for a change?
Great. It is good to see a PSA mega event back after so many years. I  am delighted Atul Punj  has made a commitment for three years. The atmosphere is  very much like Cairo where the fans get behind the players. That is necessary. In Europe the fans are much reserved. They go for football. It is important that squash players stay motivated by the fans.

Did the playing conditions measure up?
There were some warm nights. But the players enjoyed it. Some of them who lost early stuck around to do some sight-seeing.

How popular is the sport in Saudi?
It wasn't very popular. But after staging a PSA event for five years now our stands are full for our event. The richest PSA event a $250,000 affair which brought the curtain down on the season. This year we will stage the World Open. After each event the number of kids playing goes up. If they see quality squash the kids know there a future for them in the sport. And the results are showing. We had a top three finish in the Arab League GCC playoffs.

Do you have a junior programme going?
I sponsor children's coaching in Egypt. We began with 25 and have now kept a batch of 15. I am sad Indian juniors backed out of a tournament we had where kids from most Asian countries came. 

Have you made an impact in Asia?
Not yet, we are not that level but in course of time we will reach there once our 14-year-olds in training raise the level of their game.

Do you have Pakistani coaches?
Just a few. A majority are from Egypt. We send our players to Egypt.

Willstrop sees bright future for Indian squash 

No 6 seed James Willstrop of England has been impressed by the staging of the Punj LLoyd PSA Masters in Mumbai. He says the interest he has seen in Mumbai augurs well for the future of Indian squash which can only take good strides. 

Excerpts from the interview   

How did you enjoy this event?
All of us players are pleased. It's fantastic for world squash to have such an event in India.






 

James Willstrop

What your impression of Indian squash standards?
Saurav beating Cameron Pilley was great. He is in a position to take big strides. The TV coverage has been good. There are a lot of pluses overall. The kids will no doubt be inspired by all this. I saw the British Junior champion Mahesh Mangaonkar here as a volunteer. With the right kind of resources the future will be bright.

With Pakistan fading away England and Egypt are set for a long reign.
It's a cycle, I am sure Pakistan will come back. Amir Atlas beat Greg Gaultier this year. England have made a good impact over the last few months. We won the world team title twice before this year. Nick Mathew and Peter Barker did well to reach the semis.We have a good back-up.

What's your view about the Egyptians?
Shabana and Ramy have proved what they can do. Shorbagy is very good. I lost to him in that close encounter.

What will you remember 2009 for?
Reaching the final of the British Open. But the ankle injury and surgery in April will also rankle.

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