The 2024 China Smash Open is held in Shanghai from October 30 to November 3. Photo: VCG

Four Chinese mainland players admitted that they gained invaluable experience against world elite adversaries despite their first-round defeats on Wednesday at the Professional Squash Association (PSA) China Squash Open 2024 held in Shanghai.

As the highest-level professional squash event in the Chinese mainland, the China Open returned to Shanghai after a five-year hiatus. 

The event, which will run until Sunday, features 48 athletes from around the world competing for a $142,500 prize pool.

A senior official with the tournament organizing committee told the Global Times on Thursday that they had planned to offer opportunities for Chinese players to compete alongside top-tier international players. 

"All four wildcards for this year's tournament have been awarded to Chinese players, with the hope that they will use this experience to enhance their skills, gain professional ranking points, and build a solid foundation in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics," said the official. 

In October 2023, the International Olympic Committee officially announced that squash, along with cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and baseball/softball, will be included as competitive sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games in the US.

The return of the China Open marks a new step for China to boost the sport's visibility and expand access to squash for local youth and aspiring athletes.

Wang Yun, deputy director of the Small Ball Sports Management Center at the General Administration of Sport, told the Xinmin Evening News that efforts are underway to include squash in the 2025 National Games with the aim to support the sustainable and high-quality development of the sport in China.

Squash is still in its nascent stages but has significant potential for growth. The administration is working to establish a comprehensive five-tier system for squash in China. 

This includes building a competitive event structure, player skill level certifications, coach and referee qualification programs, and enhancing general skill development pathways for athletes. 

At the same times, these measures are intended to foster an organized and healthy development environment for squash nationwide, Wang noted.

Wu Xiaowei, a Beijing-based squash coach, told the Global Times on Thursday that he is happy to see the growth of the lesser-known sport in recent years. 

"The appeal of squash lies in its interactive and fast-paced nature, which has led many players to share their experiences on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu [Little Red Book]. These posts help introduce more people to the sport and share valuable tips on technique and training. However, one of the main challenges for squash's growth in China is the limited number of courts, which makes access to the sport difficult for many potential players," Wu said. 

Li Haizhen, one of the Chinese players taking part in the China Open, told The Paper that eight years ago he could never have imagined having an opportunity like the tournament in Shanghai. 

"Many of the participants in the tournament were the players that we studied through video analysis. I hope to represent China at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics," said Li, who switched to squash from badminton in 2016. 

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn