Two Yellow Dots!

Chifunda will surprise monkeys!

2008-06-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

Watch out for that funny shot! An amazing rally by the way.

EICC 2008 final: Lincou vs Gaultier

2008-06-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

Gaultier versus Shabana | British Open 2007

2008-06-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

Saudi International 07 Final - Shabana v Ashour

2008-06-07T17:32:00.001-07:00

Ashour versus Willstrop, Toc 2007

2008-05-18T01:00:00.001-07:00

Ashour versus Ricketts

2008-05-18T00:57:00.001-07:00

Infor Windy City Open 2007
Ramy Ashour vs Anthony Ricketts

White versus Willstrop: ToC 2004

2008-05-18T00:56:00.001-07:00

Tournament of Champions 2004
John White vs James Willstrop

Squash rallies 3

2008-05-18T00:55:00.001-07:00

Squash rallies 2

2008-05-18T00:54:00.001-07:00

Squash rallies 1

2008-05-18T00:49:00.001-07:00

Thus spoke Jahangir Khan

2008-05-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

Every winning streak will have to end sometime.
Everything is changing in squash. Lots of television coverage and the game has become very professional.
Generally the younger generation are not hard working. They will have to put in more effort to achieve results in tournaments. most of them can perform well but they cannot deliver when they play abroad.
However, there is no assurance that we can produce world class players so soon. Only time can tell.
I began playing in the senior circuit when I was 15 and won the world senior amateur title the same year.
I wanted to start a proper academy and recruit juniors from all over Pakistan following my retirement after the World Open in 1993 but there was no support.
In that World Open final, Ross got me. It was exactly five years and eight months. I was unbeaten for another nine months after that defeat.
It wasn't my plan to create such a record. All I did was put in the effort to win every match I played and it went on for weeks, months and years until my defeat to Ross Norman in Toulouse in 1986.
It's very difficult to do something without the support of the association. That was the reason why I did not get involved in coaching in Pakistan.
My unbeaten record and the 10 British Open wins have not been equalled.
Nicol has great potential and there is a huge gap between her and the rest of the juniors. She needs to concentrate full time on the professional circuit from now on and it is the only way for her to realize her potential.
Squash has been my life and I owe a lot to the sport.
Squash has the credentials to become an olympic event and our goal is to see the sport in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We are working towards this and will keep trying even if our bid is not successful.
Squash was my livelihood and as in business, I had to stay on top.
Superior fitness is one of the reasons why I remained unbeaten for so long and it helped me to win six world titles and 10 British Open titles.
That was one of my bad days and that was the day Ross chose to play his best. It was a little disappointing, but I got over it eventually.
The pressure began to mount as I kept winning every time and people were anxious to see if I could be beaten.
To be the best, I had to work harder than everyone else.
Without hard work and discipline it is difficult to be a top professional.
You can't go on winning all the time.

Squash Grip

2008-05-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

Another video on holding the racquet grip right (for beginners). This is video from SquashBlog.org, a nice website for squash lessons.

See my earlier posts on Mike Way's suggestions here and here, and Razik's lessons here.

John White, 35

2008-05-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

John White playing against Gaultier. Amazing spirit at the age of 35.

Do check out some more wonders of John White here.

White versus Willstrop

2008-05-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

Musical video compilation of an awesome game between two giants.

The youtube description of this video:
"Awesome game, John White, 33, has already played three 5 setters in the previous three days. Yet his legs seem fine."

Some more clipping of the same game below, with better highlighting. I love John White!

Power and Ryding: candid talk and tips

2008-05-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

"Change the pace of the game"

"Every shot should have a purpose when you are practising".

Holding the racquet: Mike Way

2008-05-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Peter Nicol

2008-05-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

Good video coverage of Peter Nicol, one of the best squash players ever.

More of Jansher

2008-05-09T00:14:00.000-07:00

Another great Jansher video made by Zeyshaan Jamal. The previous ones can be seen here and here.

Players seen in this video in order of appearance are as follows :
Jansher Khan (Pakistan)
Jonah Barrington (Ireland) [initial voice-over]
Peter Nicol (Scotland-England)
Dan Jenson (Australia)
Jonathon Power (Canada)
Julien Bonetat (France)
Rodney Eyles (Australia)
Derek Ryan (Ireland)
Ahmed Brada (Egypt)
Peter Marshall (England)

Superseries 2003: Best rallies

2008-02-11T15:38:00.000-08:00

Willstrop versus Anjema

2008-02-11T15:27:00.000-08:00

Finals of European Team Championship (ETC 2007): England (James Willstrop) v/s Netherlands (LA Anjema). Willstrop won in 95 minutes.

Learn some tricky shots!

2008-02-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

Forehand cross-court nick from Lee Beachhill.

Trickle(tickle?) boast from Anthony Ricketts.

Squash in Olympics?

2008-02-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

Well, WSF did make effots to include squash in olympics, but weren't convincing enough! Here is a promo video they made. By the way, I like the new description: "Jet Propelled Chess"!

Are you a couch potato?

2008-02-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

Then squash is for you :)

Tips from Shahier Razik

2008-02-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

Shahier Razik from Canada (former World Number 21), another Mike Way's student besides Power and Ryding, gives some basic tips for squash beginners. Thanks Razik!

Grip:

Footwork:

Forehand:

Backhand:

Volley:

John White versus Jonathan Power: Best Rallies

2007-12-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

Match from Superseries 2003 that Power won 3-0. Enjoy some of the interesting rallies (and emotional outbursts!) from the match.

Squash Quotations

2007-12-29T00:44:00.000-08:00

Squash is boxing with racquets.
-Jonah Barrington

Squash was my livelihood and as in business, I had to stay on top.
-Jahangir Khan

Crystallizing my feelings about the game, I find that squash is less frustrating than golf, less fickle than tennis. It is easier than badminton, cheaper than polo. It is better exercise than bowls, quicker than cricket, less boring than jogging, drier than swimming, safer than hang gliding.
-John Hopkins, Squash: A Joyful Game, 1980

Squash - that's not exercise, it's flagellation.
-Noel Coward

If you think squash is a competitive activity, try flower arranging.
-Alan Bennett

Mike Way: Power Squash Basics

2007-12-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

Mike Way (coach of Jonathan Power) gives some tips on power squash techniques, using Power and Graham Rdying for demos!

(click on the "play" button in the bottom panels of these videos, or one of the boxes in the main-screen if you want to start it from an intermediate point).

Squash: the Healthiest Sport!

2007-12-28T23:58:00.000-08:00

It's not just your squash fan saying that. Forbes.com also thinks the same. Their survey ranks squash as the healthiest sport, beating the likes of rowing, swimming and basketball. Here's what they had to say on squash:

The preferred game of Wall Street has convenience on its side, as 30 minutes on the squash court provides an impressive cardiorespiratory workout. Extended rallies and almost constant running builds muscular strength and endurance in the lower body, while lunges, twists and turns increase flexibility in the back and abdomen. "For people just getting into the game, it's almost too much to sustain, but once you get there, squash is tremendous," says Paul Assaiante, head coach of the five-time defending national intercollegiate champion men's squash team at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. Assaiante recommends a regimen of yoga, sprinting and distance running for preparation. Be wary of groin pulls, torn Achilles tendons and your opponent's racquet.

Jansher Khan

2007-12-28T23:45:00.000-08:00

This blog started with a tribute to the Lord of squash. More of his kills in the videos below. Note how Khan makes his opponents run around the court. That is control.

(Thanks to Z Shaan Jamal who made both the videos).

Best Rallies from Trophy of Champions, 2003

2007-12-28T23:43:00.001-08:00

You've seen the final of this series. Other nice rallies from the same tournament below.

Squash Buddies!

2007-12-26T23:19:00.000-08:00

On the lighter side! If you are disappointed, check out the Ronnies.

Peter Nicol versus Thierry Lincou

2007-12-26T23:04:00.000-08:00

Finals of the (HarrisDirect) Trophy of Champions 2003. Lincou came to the finals after beating Jonathan Power!, and Nicol after beating David Palmer. The result wasn't too surprising. Nice game in five parts below:

Squish, Goals and Rockets

2007-12-26T20:57:00.000-08:00

Classic comedy from the Two Ronnies. Didn't spare cricket either, "I've got to play a game called Cracket or something"!

Squash Musical: The Game (Trapt)

2007-12-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

A nice musical with excerpts from various games. The music is from the song "The Game" by Trapt. Note the ubiquitous clippings from the (in)famous 2001 Jonathan Power versus David Palmer game. Some more footage of the game below:

Squash: Ballet or War?

2007-12-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

"Squash as Ballet"

"Squash is War"

Ballet or War? You decide.

Welcome to Two Yellow Dots!

2007-12-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Namaste!

Welcome to Two Yellow Dots!, our new squash blog. Being an engineer, blogger and a fledgling squash player, I knew this blog is going to start one day. About the name? you know what it means if you are an intended reader of this blog. Agenda? I foresee this blog collecting interesting squash videos, articles and stats. Your contributions and feedback are very welcome.

What could be a better way to start something this pious than a tribute to the sport's Lord!

Enjoy squash, off-court.

Affectionately,
Nitin