Squash to make push for Brisbane Olympics inclusion after resurgence

It might still be associated with the 70s and 80s, but squash is fast becoming a hit with younger generations, with some young rising stars aiming for the professional circuit.

«We might not be coming back with the mullets, the retro squash rackets, sweatbands and the short-shorts but certainly, if you walk into some sports centres today, it's like going back to the '80s,» Squash Australia chief executive Rob Donaghue said.

Back then, squash was the chosen sport for thousands of people of all ages, a fast-paced ball game that almost anyone could have a go at, requiring nothing more than a racquet, a ball, a pair of sneakers — and a squash court.

But that wasn't a problem, there were distinctively shaped squash court buildings all over the suburbs.

«Squash was the sport on every street corner,» Mr Donaghue said.

«It's short and sharp; in 45 minutes you get a workout, you can play it with friends, you can play it with your partner, you can play with your kids, even families can come and play together as well.

»You can pretty much walk down the street and ask someone about squash, and they'll say, 'oh yeah, my parents used to play that' or 'my grandparents used to play' or 'I used to hang around a squash court as a kid with my family'."

While the sport has languished over recent decades, Mr Donaghue said during the pandemic participation has risen.

«We had a 3 per cent increase in participation across the board, so that's juniors all the way through to seniors and masters which was pleasing given the fact that COVID had a pretty strong effect and shut down a lot of those [gym] businesses, particularly in Victoria for a long period of time,» he said.

«There seems to be a real renewed interest in the sport more broadly, and