Reflections from the Chair, Soo Venkatesan—September 2021

September marks remembrance and transitions. I hope you are enjoying a return to familiar routines and communities and adapting to the challenges of ongoing uncertainty. The entire team at US Squash, and Team USA, are firing on all cylinders, striving to grow the game to the next level, as so many of you are doing in all corners of the country to build community and share the core values of our sport. Thank you for your unflagging efforts, patience and constructive support during these difficult times.

Monday’s Digital Drive showcases exciting milestones on the path of US Squash’s “long game” investments in excellence and Team USA. The appointment of Ong Beng Hee as the Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach comes at a pivotal moment for squash in the United States. We have four women ranked in the world’s top 25, an enviable national squash facility, and more athletes supported through our High Performance Program (HPP) than ever before—with 10 representatives in Cairo and Atlanta this week! Team USA is on the rise, with the community’s backing and our remarkable athletes’ grace and grit.

Behind our aspirations for excellence is a greater drive for growth, access and community. Fostering belonging among new and diverse constituents ensures a vibrant future for our lifelong sport. Next month’s U.S. Open will present our national governing body headquarters and home of Team USA at the largest community squash center in the world. Located in Philadelphia in one of 22 national Promise Zones, the Arlen Specter US Squash Center joins US Squash Community Squash Affiliate partners in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Harlem, Newport, San Diego, and Portland, Maine as community access hubs that welcome and integrate players from all playing abilities, ages, diverse faiths, and multicultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The 2021 U.S. Open Squash Championships presented by Truist will celebrate its inaugural staging at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia on the campus of Drexel University, October 1-6. Tickets are on sale now at usopensquash.com/tickets. Matches will take place on four courts simultaneously for the first two rounds of play Friday and Saturday, October 1-2; the round of 16 and quarterfinals will be held on both glass courts October 3-4; the semifinals and finals will be held on the Specter Center’s east glass court October 5-6.
US Squash has appointed Ong Beng Hee—a two-time Asian Games gold medalist and former world No. 7—as the Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach. Ong, who is originally from Malaysia, has most recently served as the Head National Coach of Qatar. He succeeds Paul Assaiante, who will now serve in an Emeritus role after a thirteen-year tenure as Head National Coach.

Team USA’s Amanda Sobhy will compete on one of the sport’s most iconic stages next to the Pyramids of Giza for the first time in five years after defeating U.S. teammate Olivia Blatchford Clyne in a five game comeback Monday in Cairo. Sobhy will face Egypt's Salma Hany in the quarterfinals Wednesday at 12:15pm EST.

Team USA’s Sabrina Sobhy, Todd Harrity and Shahjahan Khan ascended to career high rankings of world No. 18, 43 and 45, respectively, in September’s PSA World Tour rankings.


Women’s Squash Week–-the international movement focused on increasing women’s squash participation-–returns in 2021, September 19-26. Register to host or attend a Women's Squash Week event in your community on the Women's Squash Week 2021 page.

The voice of tennis at the US Open, Andy Taylor has become a fan favorite as emcee of squash’s Qatar Classic. How he got to Doha is a tale that includes radio morning shows, buckets of ice and The Price of Right live with Jerry Springer.
US Squash is seeking a Director of Advancement to help drive the organization’s ambitious goals for the Annual Fund, the National Community Squash Initiative, Women and Girls Initiative and to close out the highly successful Arlen Specter US Squash Center capital campaign. US Squash looks to strengthen and establish a culture of philanthropy throughout its national community. The Director of Advancement will provide strategic and tactical management of annual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships and foundation grants.
The Arlen Specter US Squash Center is now accepting applications for squash professional and assistant squash professional positions. Applications and eligibility requirements are available here.


Views From the Arlen Specter US Squash Center
Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (pictured right with Specter Center Executive Director Ned Edwards) visited the Arlen Specter US Squash Center to learn more about the facility's potential for serving the community. Councilmember Gauthier, a born-and-raised West Philadelphian, represents Philadelphia's third district, which includes much of West Philadelphia and the Specter Center.