China hopes to continue growth of squash after The World Games 2025 successes

The meteoric rise of squash in China appears well set to continue building momentum following the success of squash at The World Games in Chengdu, China.

The World Games were hosted in Chengdu, China and featured eleven national representatives that included; Haizhen Li, Xuanyi Zhu, Haisong Chen, Penglin Zhou, Guanyu Zhang, Linglu Cheng, Yaqi Zhang, Yunxin X, Yuning Zhang, and Ziyuan Yin, who played in the competition.

The players’ involvement not only allowed them to gain valuable experience but also served as an important moment for the national growth of squash, aligning with the China Squash Association’s strategies as they prepare for the upcoming Olympics.

For more than 20 years, squash has been developing in China but has remained relatively niche, being dominated by racket sports such as table tennis, badminton, and tennis.

However, squash’s recent inclusion in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) has seen an increased effort to develop squash and get more people to learn and engage with it in China.

And while the game is currently not played at the highest level yet, performances on the world stage will look to help both the growth of exposure and interest in the sport.

Chinese Squash Association’s Secretary General, Wang Ding, said: “We are deeply gratified and proud to see more than ten Chinese players competing on the World Games stage.

“At The World Games, all Chinese players embodied the spiritual outlook of contemporary Chinese youth – patriotic, tenacious in struggle, and never yielding.

“This courageous and determined demeanour not only testified to the effectiveness of their training, but also allowed international audiences to recognise the potential of Chinese squash, while strengthening the domestic audience’s sense of identification with this sport.

“This is not merely a change in numbers, but a true reflection of the expanded public foundation and the initial formation of a talent echelon for squash in China.”

And despite squash’s growth still being in its early development, the chance to appear and compete at The World Games has been described as “invaluable” for not only the increased attention but also for the players themselves.

Mr Wang Ding added: “For Chinese squash players, The World Games served as an invaluable platform for growth. Given that the overall level of squash in China is not yet high, our players lack a truly competitive environment for training and competition.

“Many of our players mentioned after this World Games that competing against high-level international opponents allowed them to gain a clear understanding of the direction for improvement in their subsequent training.

“This is of great value, as exchanges in such high-level international events directly enhance their practical combat awareness.”

Mr Ding also praised the performance of 18-year-old Liu Ziyi, who staged a brilliant comeback after losing the first game to eventually defeat Australia’s Emily Lamb in five games in the plate competition.

In the deciding game, when trailing 3-0, she moved through to win eight consecutive points and secure victory – achieving China’s first-ever win at the multi-sport event.

The Chinese Squash Association’s Secretary General also praised the youngest player on the Chinese team at the World Games, 13-year-old Yin Ziyuan.

She had just claimed the U13 championship at the Asian Junior Individual Championships in South Korea in July, but was eliminated by eventual winner and current women’s World No.6 Satomi Watanabe in the first round.

Mr Ding shared that despite her defeat, her performance showcased “strong potential for future development.”

In its aim of growing squash, China has continued to launch initiatives such as developing the competition system, promoting squash on campuses, and organising mass sports activities, all with the intention of increasing exposure to the sport.

Mr Ding said: “We are advancing the development of squash in China from multiple dimensions, including the construction of the national team, the improvement of the competition system, the building of venues, and the cultivation of young reserve talents.”

National Team developments are being made to form the core force for China’s preparations for the LA28. Last year, the Chinese Squash Association selected a group of 16-to 18-year-old tennis and badminton players to transition to squash training.

Mr Ding said: “They have adapted rapidly, and after one year of training, they are already achieving good results in domestic competitions.

“We are also actively identifying high-level players in schools; for instance, Yin Ziyuan, though only 13 years old, has undergone five years of training, possessing excellent technical skills and physical fitness. She is a key talent we focus on developing.”

The focus on young players is also apparent with the strategy of cultivating young reserve talents, with the formation of the “China Junior Squash Ranking System”.

The ranking system will aim to provide a platform for encouraging young players to participate in competitions and identifying talented individuals.

Mr Ding continued: “In the future, we will continue to promote a series of supporting programs, such as national-level youth squash training camps and the establishment of a national youth squash team, to continuously improve the competitive level of young squash players in China.”

The Chinese Squash Association will also look to guide their new and developing talent with the national squash team, which has been fully entrusted to Sichuan Province for management.

Mr Ding said: “Sichuan Province boasts rich experience in Olympic preparation and national team construction, and will build a squash training base in Chengdu with more than 20 international-standard courts, which will meet the needs of the national team’s training and the hosting of international competitions.”

The competition has also been encouraged in China, with the association establishing traditional events such as the National Squash Championships, youth competitions, and mass sports events.

Mr Ding said: “We are also actively bidding for high-level international events. The China Open has now become a PSA Squash Tour Gold-level event, the China Squash Tour was restarted this year and is also a PSA-certified event, with plans to hold at least five stops annually in the future.”

And the strategy for growth will also see the development and access to squash courts in China, with currently over 500 courts available, with an annual growth of more than 10%.

Mr Ding continued: “As a major manufacturing country, China possesses advanced industrial capabilities; at present, two domestic glass court manufacturers have obtained WSF (World Squash) certification and also served as the venue suppliers for this World Games.

“We are also actively promoting the formulation of squash court standards in China, striving to build world-class squash venues.”

The efforts and strategies are being put in place for the future of squash in China, and with the recent hosting of The World Games in Chengdu, it looks to be a major stepping stone in the development of squash.

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