36 countries in Houston for the World Junior Squash Championships

Houston – Clutch City, Crush City, Squash City?

We’re talking about the sport, not the vegetable! It’s known as one of the toughest racquetball sports in the world and is loved for its physical, and mental health benefits.

This week, more than 200 players from 36 countries are in town to celebrate the Junior World Squash Championships at Houston Squash Club, the nation’s largest squash facility. This is the first time Houston is hosting the event and it marks the first time both boys and girls teams will participate simultaneously.

CEO and owner of the Houston Squash Club Jahanzeb Khan joined us on the show with three players competing. Khan is originally from Pakistan and played squash on a professional level before continuing his career as a coach and teacher. HSC was founded in 2021 and is only facility in Houston that is focused on only one sport; squash. The facility boasts 13 state-of-the-art squash courts, an interactive squash court, and a champion court arena.

Tonight, players must get through the quarterfinals, tomorrow’s semi-finals, and then the team competitions starting on July 18. The competition will come to an end on July 23.

18-year-olds Rishi Srivastava and Rustin Wiser from Team USA and Huzaifa Ibrahim from Team Pakistan accompanied Khan on the show. All three have committed to playing squash at their future universities. Srivastava ranks as number one in the U.S., Wiser is number five, and Ibrahim at 108.

With over 25 million players globally, squash has now been included as part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, further elevating its global profile and importance.

If you’re interested in learning more, Houston Squash Club would love to host you for a session or a tour of the facility.