Court Concert

INTOUCH drops by the Squash Courts to find out why the sport is proving popular with women.

A squash symphony rings out as Club Member Aya Schinaman rhythmically practices her swing.

While the ball ricochets off the squash court’s concrete wall and rubber-soled shoes squeak on the wood floor, coach Noriko Kamiyama calls out encouragement in a singsong voice.

“My youngest son told me when he hits the [squash] ball, you feel something here in your heart, like a sound,” says Schinaman, 51. “Now I understand what he said.”

Schinaman’s two sons took up squash at the Club from the age of 5, and Schinaman soon followed, joining the Ladies’ Squash Clinic with Kamiyama, 2007’s All-Japan Masters champion.

“I wanted to understand squash so that I can share the same sports with my boys,” says Schinaman. “I don’t have any desire to go to the Olympics. It’s just about staying fit and having fun.”

Invented at Britain’s Harrow School in 1830, squash’s best female players traditionally come from former British territories like Australia, Egypt, Hong Kong and Malaysia. In fact, Malaysian eight-time world champion Nicol David practiced at the Club three years ago.

For the professional female game, the bottom line on the court’s front wall, referred to as the tin, was recently lowered from 48 to 43 centimeters. The goal is to standardize the game for women and men and increase the speed of play.

“It’s a really exciting time for women’s squash,” David said in a recent interview.

Japan’s women are having an impact, with two players, Satomi Watanabe and Misaki Kobayashi, ranked in the top 50 in the world. Both are former winners of the TAC Premier Classic, the annual Club tournament held this month.

“Japanese women are competing with the best in the world,” says Kamiyama, who is currently ranked 59th in Japan. “Squash is definitely trending up in Japan.”

Playing squash burns three times as many calories as tennis, says Kamiyama, noting the game is particularly good for women looking to tone their lower body. With multiple combinations of shots, squash, she says, is a mix of chess, billiards and tennis.

“It is not only about power, you also use your brain, and there are many ways to win,” says Kamiyama. “That is why I can still do it at 55 years old. Sometimes I can beat women 15 years younger.”

During a break in their practice, Kamiyama gives Schinaman pointers on her grip, reminding her to keep the wrist at a 90-degree angle to the racket. Schinaman intends to share the lesson with her sons, who will both compete in the open category of the TAC Premier Classic.

“Even people who have never played racket sports before, like me, can start squash,” says Schinaman. “I can still learn new things and enjoy it.”

Ladies’ Squash Clinic
Monthly: final Thursday (6:30–8pm) & final Friday (10am–12pm)

Words: Nick Narigon
Image: Enrique Balducci