Squash is a racket sport that can be played with two people as singles or four people as doubles. The purpose of the game is to hit a rubber ball on the walls of a court so that the opponent can’t return it. The equipment used to hit the ball is a squash racket. Governed by the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), this sport is growing rapidly worldwide, and the number of squash players is also expanding continuously. Thus, several squash courts have been built in India.
What is a squash court?
A squash court is a rectangular area that is surrounded by four walls of different heights. These walls include a front wall, a back wall, and two side walls. The length of a standard singles squash court is 9.75m and the width is 6.4m. Meanwhile, the dimensions of a doubles squash court are 13.72m in length and 7.62m in breadth. In all squash courts, a thin strip called the tin is placed at the bottom of the front wall, which is equal to a net in tennis. The floors of squash courts are hard and smooth, with a matte finish of a wooden colour.
Top 7 Squash Courts for you in India
With the rise of squash in India, many individuals as well as associations have created facilities for squash players. So here, let us take a look at the top 7 squash courts for you in India.
- Indian Squash Academy, Chennai
The Indian Squash Academy (ISA) was established in 1990 by the Squash Racquets Federation of India (SRFI). Along with the SRFI, The Tamil Nadu Squash Racquets Association, and the India Cements also demonstrated their support by being initial sponsors for the facilitation of this academy. The area includes several squash courts for players to train and practice in. These squash courts have the best facilities, including glass-back courts that are used in international games. They also offer coaching from top trainers in the country. The Indian Squash Academy has hosted several junior and senior squash tournaments over the years. Several top players who played at the international level, trained at this academy. Some of the big names are Ravi Dixit, Parth Sharma, Karan Malik, and Saurav Ghosal.
This club in Pune is one of the biggest clubs in India that provides multiple facilities for various sports including squash, badminton, table tennis, and billiards. They provide training facilities for all these sports as well. The Poona Club has two squash courts with glass-backs. Their brilliant infrastructure is appreciated by beginners as well as professional players. Additionally, they have squash-playing subscriptions for either half a year or a full year. The Poona Club also recently hosted the Pune Squash championship that took place in May this year.
The Lakshyan Academy of Sports is a sports complex in Bengaluru that has provisions for squash, swimming, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, etc. Their squash courts are built with the parameters of the World Squash Federation. The flooring of these squash courts is made of wood that is smoothened and they provide top quality equipment. Additionally, these courts are air-conditioned. The Lakshyan Sports Academy gives players the perfect environment to learn and practice the sport. The top trainer for squash at the Lakshyan Sports Academy is Saurav Ghosal.
As the name suggests, the Calcutta Racket Club is a racket as well as a squash club. The Calcutta Racket Club was the first club to be built in the Indian subcontinent, making it one of the oldest racket clubs in the world as well. It was established in the year 1973 by the East India Company. This club has seven squash courts, out of which two courts are designed with glass backs just like the ones used for national and international tournaments. They hosted the 2005 Kolkata International Squash tournament. Moreover, they conduct other squash tournaments and activities throughout the year. The Calcutta Racket Club is one of the most trusted clubs by squash players in India because of its heritage and history.
Although the Cricket Club of India (CCI) is known for its cricket facilities, they also have provisions for other sports. They have many squash courts that are built with glass backs like the ones used for international tournaments. The CCI has made coaching programs available for their members for various sports including squash. They also organize squash tournaments and activities often. The CCI is a very popular club in Mumbai and it is known for its standards and facilities.
This stadium is a renowned place located in New Delhi. The Squash and Badminton Stadium (SBS) provides facilities used at the international level. Besides squash, they have modern equipment for other sports as well. The SBS has multiple squash courts, that are air-conditioned and made with top-quality wooden flooring. This squash stadium is a massive hub for squash players in Delhi. Several national and international tournaments have been held here, making it a popular location. The SBS has a ‘Pay n Play’ policy that is on an hourly or monthly basis. They also have squash training programs that are conducted by top-level players.
The National Sports Club of India (NSCI) has four squash courts. One court is only four doubles, while the other three are singles courts. All the courts are air-conditioned and have top modern equipment. The courts are designed to meet international standards, thus, making them a top choice for professional players. NSCI has a first come first serve basis for its members, where they can play for as long they want if there is no one else in line. However, if other members are wanting to play, only 30-minute sessions are given. This sports club provides training facilities thrice a week as well. It is a well-known club in India and a top favourite for all beginners as well as professional squash players.
So, here are some of the best squash courts in India. Choose your preferred court based on the location as well as your requirements and get going. Happy Playing.
