Squash in Abu Dhabi

The city is not short on sports you can try, and one that can get you moving indoors in the hot months is squash. Sara Taher takes a look at how to play and where you can get your racquet on around town

With hotter months on the horizon, squash is one indoor sport that may carry a lot of appeal for Abu Dhabi residents – and plenty of hotels in the city have courts you can hire for an hour or two.

The sport originated around 1830 in England and soon spread across the world. Much like tennis, two or four players can compete using a natural rubber ball. The shots are sharp and fast and playing in a closed space requires a lot of agility and dexterity. While not much has changed in the essence of the sport, racquets themselves have evolved. Whereas in the past they were made of wood, current racquets are lighter and made of carbon-based material.

Scoring according to international standards has also evolved. Previously, people played to nine points, which is known as the English scoring system. Around the world today, people keep score according to PARS, or the Point Rally System, which plays out to 11. Although the sport still isn’t featured in the Olympics, there are several international federations such as the World Squash Federation, the Professional Squash Association and the Women’s Squash Association.

The sport can burn up to 600 calories per hour, although there are reports that claim that you can burn up to 1,000, and equipment is sold in most sports shops. Different health clubs around town also have competitions for amateurs, such as the recent one that took place at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana. We spoke to the trainer there, Faisal Bashir, to find out more.

What advice do you have for newcomers to the sport?
To have fun. Practise makes perfect however having coached for more than 13 years in the UAE I have noticed a lot of serious squash players and young squash players forget to enjoy the sport, which is important! It takes time to perfect it and to get competent in the basics but once that is out the way squash becomes very fluid and very nice, even for the spectator to watch. We recently had our Khalidiya squash tournament and I noticed it brought a lot of people together, including families and friends. It’s so exciting for the spectators.

What racquet do you recommend?
It depends on the person, each person is different. A racquet that might suit me might not be ideal for you. There are so many variables to consider, however it is very important to ensure that you do check the grip width, the size of the head, the weight and balance of the racquet.

What are some common injuries?
Achilles tendon rupture, achilles tendonitis, ACL tear… However these can all be prevented by warming up correctly and ensuring proper stretching is done before and after every session and game played.

Why is squash a good sport to learn and play?
Squash is a very fast and high energy game. It builds good hand-eye coordination and also serves as a good cardio vascular workout for those who want to burn a few extra calories. For the kids, they learn to respect their opponent and also it teaches them to be disciplined, which is good for everyone.
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana, Ras Al Akhdar (02 657 0000).