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The NASH Cup has leveled up at an interesting time.
The 16th annual Professional Squash Association stop in London is now considered a ‘Copper’ world tour event with more points available and US$25,000 purses for both the men’s and women’s draws. That boost has happened as the sport prepares to take part in the Olympics for the first time in four years at Los Angeles.
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“Squash had been a bridesmaid four times (for Olympic inclusion),” Cup chair Jay Nash said. “It’s a fairly old sport but the number playing it and level of organization has continued to increase. The U.S. expansion the past decade has helped and you can run the tournament with 32 players and a glass court that can go anywhere. You don’t need a whole new building, which is appealing to the Olympic organizers.
“You have to be in the Games three times for it to become a permanent sport. Right now, it’s very promising.”
You can frequently root for future world No. 1s at the NASH Cup headquarters, London Squash & Fitness (76 Albert St.). Now add in Olympians-to-be at the event, which runs through Saturday in the city and satellite clubs in Sarnia and Chatham.
The addition of the Jack Fairs Open this week is aimed at trying to boost young Canadian players and get them started toward a world ranking. The thought is it could be a stepping stone to qualifying for LA 2028.
“In the experimental format we’re using,13 of the 24 players are current or former Western players,” Nash said. “We’re doing this to honour the legacy and history of Jack Fairs,” the legendary Western squash coach who passed away three years ago at age 98.
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The Mustangs, ranked 11th in NCAA Div. I squash this fall, have won an unprecedented 40 consecutive Ontario university titles. The Open draw returns to the grassroots intention of the NASH Cup tournament.
“We launched this because we’ve outgrown our original purpose and not enough Western players were getting in (the draw),” Nash said. “By putting the world’s top athletes against Western players, you’re starting their season by humbling them.
“They get beaten, they turn around and realize as much as they are the best in Canadian university squash, they have a lot to learn.”
Will the NASH Cup grow more in the future? Almost certainly, but the hub will always be downtown London and the mid-September time frame remains ideal.
“The atmosphere we have (at London Squash) can’t be matched anywhere and I don’t want anything to disturb that,” Nash said. “The PSA honours your place in the tour. As long as we continue moving forward, we keep this spot on the calendar and it’s wonderful.
If we maintain our position here – which is my intent – we’ll be one of the first tournaments held after the 2028 Olympics.”
rpyette@postmedia.com
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