Spotlight on Squash

This article was originally published in the Spring 2022 edition of the Chatham Recorder Alumni Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

Only four years into its tenure at Chatham, the men’s squash team finished the season ranked #14 in the country, alongside some illustrious company in other top 20 schools like Dartmouth, Cornell, Princeton, Yale, and Harvard. There are nine nationalities represented on the men’s and women’s squash teams, including Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, and the USA. 

And it’s not only Chatham fans who have recognized this victory: For the second season in a row, the men’s squash program has been honored with the College Squash Association (CSA) Barnaby Award as the most improved men’s team. The Barnaby Award, voted on by the CSA men’s varsity coaches, recognizes the team that has improved the most since the end of the previous season in both its final team ranking and the quality of the opponents it has surpassed.

“This year was filled with lots of ups and downs, but this group found a way to stick together and bounce back eagerly for the next challenge, which says a lot about their character,” says coach Chris Fernandez. “I’m extremely proud of the way we competed against top national talent and for being recognized as the Barnaby Recipients from the CSA for consecutive years now. Being in our true second year as a varsity team, we have to understand that growing pains are part of the process and being on the winning side of tight matches comes with more experience and hardship. I am excited for the growth and strides this group will make in the coming years.”

Three Cougars were honored by the CSA for their classroom efforts as well as their dedication to the team. Senior Vinicius Ennius Muniz and juniors Abdul Malik Kahn and Mohamed Sadek were honored as CSA Student-Athletes, becoming the first in program history to earn this honor.

How to Play Squash

1. The server hits the ball against the far wall of the squash court so that it bounces back into the other half of the court, opposite the server’s square.

2. The goal for both players is to return the ball to the far wall, only allowing one bounce on the floor before hitting it. The ball can bounce off the side walls of the court, but not the floor. The last person to successfully hit the wall during a volley wins a point. The player that earns each point becomes, or continues to be, the server.

3. Players must hit the far wall of the court in between an upper line and a lower line, indicated on the wall. The bottom line has a strip of tin along it, so that you can hear when a ball hits it.

4. A match is awarded to the player who wins the best out of three or five games. Each game goes to 11 points, with the first player to reach 11 by at least two points winning.

Q&A with a Squash Player

Abdul Malik Kahn ’23

We caught up with student-athlete Abdul Malik Kahn ’23—who was recently elected Chatham Student Government President—for a glimpse into the game. 

Q: What is your major? 

A: I’m majoring in accounting, with a minor in data science and management. 

Q: How long have you been playing squash? 

A: Since I was six years old! 

Q: What do you like most about the game? 

A: I like how squash is both mental and a physical pursuit, thus known as the human chess. 

Q: How did it feel to play in the Nationals? 

A: It felt good to play around supportive people and give my best without worrying about the results. 

Q: Any tips on how to improve your game? 

A: Have a good idea of racquet techniques; know your strengths—and use them; and have good pace in the court.