Important for UPSC Prelims: Sports | International Organisations
What is Squash?
Squash is an indoor racket sport that combines agility, strategy, speed, endurance, and mental strength. It can be played throughout the year and is suitable for players of all skill levels.
Key Features
- Played as Singles (2 players) or Doubles (4 players).
- Played on a four-walled court using a small hollow rubber ball.
- The ball must strike the front wall, above the tin and below the outline.
- A match is played in the best of three or five games.
- Each game is played to 11 points; at 10–10, a player must win by two points.
- Recognised by Forbes Magazine as one of the healthiest sports.
World Junior Squash Championship
The World Junior Squash Championship (WJSC) is the premier international championship for junior squash players.
About
- Organised by: World Squash Federation (WSF)
- Category: Under-19
- Events: Individual (Boys & Girls) and Team Championships
- Considered the highest international competition for junior squash players.
Squash World Cup
The Squash World Cup is an international mixed-team championship in which countries compete through teams comprising both men and women.
Key Facts
- Organised by: World Squash Federation (WSF)
- First Held: 1996, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
- Team Composition: Two men and two women.
- Format: Round-robin stage followed by knockout rounds.
- Match Format: Best of five games, each played to 7 points.
- 2023 Edition: Introduced gender parity (equal representation of men and women) and the 7-point game format.
World Squash Federation (WSF)
The World Squash Federation (WSF) is the international governing body for squash.
About
- Founded: 1967
- Headquarters: Hastings, England (United Kingdom)
- Members: 123 National Squash Federations
- Continental Federations: Five
- Role:
- Governs the rules of squash.
- Organises major international squash championships.
- Promotes the global development of the sport.
- Member of:
- General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)
- Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)
Squash at the Olympics
- Olympic Debut: 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (LA28).
- Included as one of the new sports in the LA28 programme.
Conclusion
Squash is an internationally recognised racket sport governed by the World Squash Federation (WSF). With its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and India’s growing success at the junior level, the sport has become increasingly relevant from both a sporting and UPSC Prelims perspective.
| The Concept has been mentioned in the following article World Junior Squash Championship: India’s Historic First Title |