HOUSTON (BVM) — Shayaan Zaidi was a 10-year-old that enjoyed playing basketball. His father, Monsoor, decided to take up squash at the closest facility to their home in The Woodlands – the Downtown Club at the Met in Houston. One day, Shayaan joined his dad for a game and after that he was hooked.

“It’s an exciting game,” said now 14-year-old Shayaan. “Basketball has running and jumping, but squash has you playing every corner of the court scrambling to get the ball.”

Squash, which began around 1830 in London, is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Like tennis, it can be played by two opponents or in teams of two players each. But, unlike tennis, it is played indoors. Each player has a racket and the players alternate striking a hollow rubber ball onto the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court. The objective is to hit the ball in such a way as to not allow the opponent to be able to play a valid return.

The game was named after the ball. It can be played with different balls, depending on the player’s skill level, and the balls come in different colors including blue for beginners, red for amateurs and yellow for professionals. The ball heats up as it is played causing it to go easier and faster.

About 20 million people play squash regularly worldwide in over 185 countries. While the governing body of squash, the World Squash Federation, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, it is not yet part of the Olympic Games. However, there are many other opportunities for aspiring squash players. Every Ivy League school has a varsity squash team and top ranked juniors are recruited to go to universities around the country.

Muhammad Sadiq, a coach at the Downtown Club at the Met, saw young Shayaan with his dad not long after they started playing there. Sadiq recognized that Shayaan had talent and approached him about taking lessons and playing seriously. Then Shayaan’s adventures in squash really took off.

“He has been to squash camps at local clubs run by pros and he has had good experiences,” Monsoor said. “Pros who came for the camps (were) Alistir Walker, Mazen Hesham and Stephen Coppinger.”

Shayaan has set his sights on becoming a varsity player and he says that he would like to play professionally one day. Like tennis, if a young player excels at the sport, they could become a professional player by 16 or 17.

These days, Shayaan works hard to train for squash which is considered by many to be one of the world’s most demanding sports. Players burn about 750 calories on average during a game. While anyone with any body type can play squash, they need to be in top condition. According to the International Squash Academy, squash is considered a complete workout done in about 45 minutes. It takes complete hand-eye coordination as well as sharp mental ability.

To realize his future goals, Shayaan makes the 30-mile trek into Houston to play squash three to four times a week. In addition, he practices conditioning exercises at home. He says that while he prefers playing solo, he enjoys playing with his friends. And the action never stops.

“One game is not the same as another,” Shayaan said.

Squash has given Shayaan a wealth of memorable experiences. He says that one of his favorites took place in 2019 at the B-15 Regionals in Atlanta. He said that he lost a game initially and that things were not looking good. Then he found himself in another match playing against one of his rivals and beat him. He won the finals and came out fifth in the tournament.

“It is not all about winning,” Shayaan said. “Squash is really, really fun. It’s a tight community. Squash is not just about the game, but about other people as well.”

Squash is an expensive game and, if you live in The Woodlands, the two closest facilities are in Houston. The good news is that more schools are recognizing the potential for squash to open doors for students and some schools are even starting their own squash clubs. Shayaan has the passion it takes to make his dreams of playing squash a reality and a devoted father that makes sure that Shayaan has every opportunity to play the game he loves.