The Jonah Barrington Column: March 2023

One of the sport’s greatest thinkers and a pioneer for the professional game, Jonah Barrington offers his thoughts on all of squash’s biggest talking points in a new monthly column – written exclusively for the PSA World Tour website.

In this month’s column, Jonah looks ahead to the Black Ball Squash Open, which begins this week in Cairo.

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By Jonah Barrington

After a fascinating sequence of tournaments throughout January and February in North America, which included the encouraging reappearance of Ali Farag in Pittsburgh – albeit still on recovery mode following his knee problem – and Gina Kennedy’s resurgence – which I hope has only been temporarily paused by injury – we now have the biggest guns gathering in Cairo for the prestigious Black Ball Open.

Thus, amazing squash is guaranteed, yet much of the attention will be taken by the ongoing saga surrounding Mostafa Asal, who now has the added pressure of being World No.1 and top seed in his own country.

As the draw stands, Mostafa looks odds-on to face a second round match-up with Fares Dessouky, Raphael Kandra notwithstanding, and that is a fascinating and potentially physical prospect, while Tarek Momen still lurks dangerously.

Even more intriguing is a potentially rumbustious reunion with Marwan ElShorbagy to come deeper in the draw.

So there is no point in ignoring the possibility that the referees will be the focus of attention in certain matches!

In this respect, my old friend Malcolm Willstrop would have been the foremost protagonist in lambasting Mostafa (and others) for perpetrating unacceptable activities.

There are those who rather enjoy all of this and suggest that any controversy is productive in selling the game to a wider audience, and I too wish to see this very special young player in full flow, a rare talent who does not need to cross the boundaries in pursuit of victory.

Yet it also has to be pointed out that Mostafa’s problems relate potentially to undue physicality, although there are others in recent times who have also shown an overt lack of respect to referees.

There has also been increasing abuse and verbal harassment of officials, and this has to be stamped out very early with a stringent code of conduct enforced from the offset. This must begin here and now and the ultimate sanction to disqualify needs to be much more than a mere threat. 

Young Asal constantly refers to his troubles as a product of others – but these things have been ongoing since I was in my cradle, and when you look at his favoured sport of football there is little to learn in this regard that is new but has not already been employed!. 

Indeed, he should watch rugby when necessary, where controlled brutality is at the core of the deal and boundaries marked out by referees half the size of the players with yellow and red cards are accepted without question.

As is the rest of the disciplinary code.

So, Mostafa, compare that to the gross behaviour of so many footballers and learn from it before it is too late!

Moving on, I am keeping my fingers crossed that all players, men and women, are fully fit because this event should be a further feast of squash in this exciting phase of the year.

Diego Elias has finally come into his own, which is something I have been waiting and waiting for!

Now the Peruvian Puma is on Mostafa’s shoulder and it has to be said that his exploits are an impressive further boost to the fine achievements of the unique Miguel Rodriguez, who has done so much to champion our sport in South America and beyond.

Yet with the Black Ball looming, the big question is can Diego, with his terrific team including Wael El Hindi (the wily one), Jonathon Power and the French General (Gregory Gaultier) also offering an encouraging voice – and please remember his ever constant father too – take the pressure in Cairo?

Diego is indeed on the cusp of dislodging Mostafa to ascend to that coveted No.1 position himself and so the acid test of his nerve awaits.

Flip the coin and then you must ask will the Egyptians, for so long impregnable on home soil, contain Paul Coll, Joel Makin with his tail back up, and a Victor Crouin buoyed by another success and riding the crest of the wave of a very memorable season? We shall see.

Meanwhile, we must not forget ‘The Beast’, Mohamed ElShorbagy, who will be there too as an Englishman now.

The women’s draw brings Nour El Sherbini and Hania El Hammamy ostensibly together in the semis. Add Nouran Gohar to the pot and the big three will rightly capture most of the attention on home soil.

However, beware! There is so much talent in this draw, now more so than ever, and there are going to be upsets. 

Joelle King and Amanda Sobhy will never accept second best, while the younger contenders are in hot pursuit and getting ever closer to the ultimate breakthrough.

I must say that in the most recent years, the women have consistently saved the day and given me a huge incentive to remain in love with my sport and take maximum enjoyment in my dotage!