Move over pickleball craze, there’s another racket in town — a racket sport, that is.
The Spring Branch District is home to Houston’s only facility focused solely on squash, a racket sport for two players at a time (or four for doubles) in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball.
The Houston Squash Club (HSC) opened in October 2021 at 1530 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N.
If squash sounds similar to racquetball, it’s because it is. Yet there are key differences. Squash involves a narrower, longer racket and a smaller, slower ball. And a racquetball court is bigger.
HSC owner and director Jahanzeb Khan, 39, played squash professionally and has been coaching for the last 21 years with an impressive line-up of players he has trained, including world champions and junior champions.
Jahanzeb Khan with son-trainee Azlan
Squash is played in 184 countries, Khan said. As of 2017, the United States had the fastest growing squash participation worldwide, with a total of nearly 2 million squash players.
Khan said he and his partners saw a growing need for a dedicated squash club in the Spring Branch area.
“It’s getting very popular in our local community,” he said.
The business’ other partners are Dr. Asif Cochinwala, Dr. Khurram Siddiqui and Syed Sher Shah.
“We are a private and lively club located in the heart of Houston on Beltway 8 and Westview governed by three squash enthusiasts and one squash professional,” Khan said.
Khan said he worked at Lifetime Fitness in the nearby CityCenter for a decade and found the Spring Branch District the ideal place to open his own club. Hailing from Pakistan, Khan grew up playing squash.
“My father put me in all different sports, and I did really well in squash so my father asked me to stick with this amazing sport,” Khan said.
Daughter-trainee Eshal Khan
HSC features eight state-of-the-art squash courts, a court that provides computerized performance feedback, a champion court arena, the latest training technology and equipment and a “world-class program” for expert and beginner levels, as well as private lessons for all levels.
In addition, Khan said HSC coordinates squash leagues and tournaments for all age groups at club and state level.
“HSC welcomes people of all ages and walks of life,” he said. “Squash is an easily adaptable game and because of that nature, along with proper training, our members pursue it seriously.”
With his background in squash, Khan said the club is able to bring in international squash players and legends to encourage and inspire rising athletes.
And, he said, there is a fitness center. HSC also just added a cryotherapy recovery program — which uses freezing or near-freezing temperatures — so athletes can recover in minutes.
Houston Squash Club owners from L-R: Dr. Khurram Siddiqui, Dr. Asif Cochinwala, Jahanzeb Kahn, Syed Sher Shah
HSC offers monthly memberships, weekly passes and day passes, Khan said.
“So if you are ready to take up squash for fun or want to take it to the next level, we have just the game plan set for you.”
Houston Squash Club
1530 W Sam Houston Pkwy N., Unit 120
Houston, TX 77043
832.499.5958
[email protected]
www.houstonsquashclub.com
— by Dorothy Puch Lillig
