After an injury ended her pro career, Kanzy El Defrawy arrived in Dubai seeking anonymity and found a city full of squash courts but no system. She built The Flying Daf Academy from scratch, pushed for federation pathways, educated parents, and expanded to 12 sites. Next comes a true home: a seven-court hub inside the green-financed AllSports Arena in Al Quoz, opening Dec 2025/early 2026—uniting training, leagues, and national ambitions.

For decades, sport policy meant funding elite athletes to chase Olympic and major games medals. That model is cracking. Governments from the UK to Australia and Canada now prioritise grassroots participation, health, and inclusion. The IOC’s own reforms—gender parity, citizen events like the “Marathon Pour Tous,” and school programs—underscore this shift. International Federations that embrace participation will thrive; those stuck on medals risk losing funding, hosts, and pu

Wellness is no longer a spa add-on but a growth driver for racquet clubs. The Global Wellness Institute’s microtrend report shows younger players seek social recovery, better sleep, and mental fitness alongside court time. From social sauna culture to sleep-smart facilities and evidence-based recovery, wellness widens reach, boosts loyalty, and smooths utilization. For tennis, squash, padel, and pickleball venues, the post-match experience may be as decisive as the match itse

The 2025 State of Padel in the US Report highlights the sport’s rapid rise and unique U.S. trajectory. While infrastructure lags behind Europe, growth is accelerating with indoor-first expansion, smart club models, and surging equipment sales. Unified competition structures and the World Padel Rating are bringing order to the market. Yet challenges remain—especially coaching gaps and risks of overbuilding. For investors and operators, disciplined strategy is key.

Australia’s squash revival hinges on shifting from aging, privately owned courts to council-run, multi-sport hubs. Michelle Martin shows how advocacy through state bodies unlocks funding and access. Case studies: a like-for-like rebuild at North Manly (still just three courts) and a push for Willoughby’s private centre to become a community racquet hub. Aligned with ASC’s Play Well strategy, plans should prioritise informal play, modular design and 4–6 court clusters.

Sport is competing in the attention economy. Red Torch finds fans give roughly 18 minutes of daily social time to sport while hundreds of thousands of accounts fight for it. Passion doesn’t equal consumption; relevance must be earned. The winners create participation through authentic communities, agile club partnerships and culture-led events, and by entering the wellness conversation. Measuring minutes of attention becomes the benchmark for sponsorship value and long-term g

Squash Summit 2025 takes place 13–14 September in Cairo during the Egyptian Open. Hosted by the Squash United Foundation, this non-profit, two-day conference unites federations, clubs, coaches, players, and partners to share strategies as squash builds toward its LA28 Olympic debut. The 2025 theme explores the secrets behind Egypt’s success—from grassroots to pro. Speakers include leaders from WSF, ESF, and legends Ali Farag, Karim Darwish, and Raneem El Welily.

Padel and pickleball are more than trending racket sports—they offer distinct mental health benefits for players. A 2025 systematic review highlights that pickleball boosts life satisfaction, happiness, and social connection, particularly in seniors. Padel enhances self-confidence and reduces anxiety among competitive players but increases mental fatigue. Club operators can leverage these findings to optimize programs and improve member wellbeing.

French No. 1 Victor Crouin shares how high-level squash can drive the sport’s growth. From inspiring youth and families to leveraging media visibility, he stresses the role of passionate coaches, strategic promotion, and outdoor courts. For Crouin, elite squash isn’t a magic fix, but a powerful tool when used wisely — creating a virtuous circle between grassroots participation and top-level performance.

For the first time in Olympic and Paralympic history, LA28 introduces venue naming rights, unlocking a new commercial model for the Games. Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios will host Squash’s Olympic debut, while Honda Center in Anaheim retains its name to host Volleyball. These groundbreaking partnerships with Comcast and Honda mark a milestone in LA28’s mission for privately funded, innovative Games. Additional partners are expected as the countdown continues.

The 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta strategically features squash due to its logistical fit and sustainable venue use. Badminton, historically significant but requiring greater resources, is excluded temporarily. Emerging sports like padel and pickleball await wider adoption before potential inclusion, reflecting careful strategic decisions balancing tradition, sustainability, and local capabilities.

The PSA Squash Tour hit a historic high in 2024-25 with $12.5M in player compensation, marking an 18.4% rise from the previous season. This follows the rollout of a new tour structure aimed at long-term stability ahead of squash's LA28 Olympic debut. With 1,019 events across 70 countries and balanced earnings between top male and female players, the season reflects PSA’s commitment to global growth, financial equity, and athlete opportunity.