2028 Los Angeles Olympics medal candidates
Squash Satomi Watanabe Interview (Part 1)
Squash became an official sport for the first time four years later at the Los Angeles Olympics. It is a tennis-like game in which two players hit a rubber ball against each other in a court surrounded by walls on all sides, and is also known as “3-dimensional billiards.”
Currently, there is a female squash player who is ranked 13th in the world squash rankings, which is the highest ever for a Japanese player. That person is Satomi Watanabe, a 25-year-old from Kanagawa Prefecture.
From the age of 12, he studied abroad in Malaysia alone, and at the age of 18 won his first All Japan Championship. After graduating from high school, he went to the UK to attend university and continued his training in the home of squash. We asked the hope of the Japanese squash world, who is aiming to win a medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in four years’ time, about his current state of mind and future goals.
◆Squash Satomi Watanabe Photo Gallery >>
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Satomi Watanabe, the hope of the Japanese squash world, is rapidly growing after studying abroad in the UK…Click here for images >>── Squash is still a minor sport in Japan, but it is popular in Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East, with 18 million fans. As a result of its growing popularity around the world, it was selected as an official event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Finally. Even if I wanted to try out for the Olympics, I wouldn’t even be given the right to try if my sport wasn’t included.
I had heard rumors that it would finally become an official sport at the Los Angeles Olympics. However, I had repeated the same experience four times in the past, and had barely failed each time, so I decided not to get my hopes up unnecessarily (lol). Even at the 2012 London Olympics (squash originated in England), we ended up not being able to qualify.”
── You were a strong candidate for additional competition at the Paris Olympics.
“When it was decided that an additional sport would be added to the Paris Olympics, squash was said to be a strong candidate because two French athletes, both male and female, were in the top three in the world rankings.
However, to be honest, even if squash had become an official event at the Paris Olympics, I think it would have been difficult for me to win a medal. That’s why I’m grateful that now, as an athlete, I’ve finally begun to learn how to fight, and I’ve decided to make it an official event at a time when I’m ready to compete. I feel like I used up a bit of luck (lol), but this may be the first and last time squash will be played at the Olympics.
However, I can compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at the age of 29. Until now, my main goal was vaguely to win the world championship or to be number 1 in the world rankings. However, since squash became an Olympic sport, I felt that I might be able to stand on a special stage as an athlete, and my motivation increased even more. I hope that through this opportunity, the squash world as a whole will take it to the next level.”
[Why I decided to go to England after graduating from high school]
── When squash was made an official sport at the IOC general meeting last October, where did you hear the news?
“I wasn’t able to go to the (Japanese) squash association because I was in England, but we connected online and shared our joy. However, the moment the decision was made came more easily than I expected, and I wondered, ‘Did it really happen?’ , I didn’t realize it right away (lol).
But after that, I started talking about it on a daily basis, and when I watched the Paris Olympics on TV in August, I thought, “I can take on that stage myself,” and I’m really excited! ”
Satomi Watanabe is currently based in the UK where she studied abroad photo by Sano Miki
── Didn’t you get a lot of inspiration from watching this summer’s Paris Olympics?
“I love the manga “Haikyu!!” so much that I’ve read it over and over again, so I used to watch the men’s volleyball games a lot.Japan lost the match against Italy (in the quarterfinals), and I think the players were the most disappointed. The matches themselves were fun. I also watched judo with my father, who has experience in judo, and watched sports like table tennis and badminton that were broadcast on TV.”
── The format for qualifying for the Olympics in squash hasn’t been announced yet, right?
“I agree.
However, it is expected that there will be a total of 32 participants for both men and women, with a maximum of two from one country. I think some of them will be able to participate based on their world rankings.
After all, the ideal would be to secure a spot in the world rankings, and I think I’m currently in a position where I can aim for that goal (13th in the world rankings). The remaining three to four years seems like a long time, but it’s short, so it’s really hard to continue competing, but I want to push myself hard where I can, be careful where I need to be, and do my best! ”
── By the way, why did Watanabe decide to base his activities in England?
“Currently, Egypt is the strongest country in the world in the world of squash, but as the birthplace of the sport, England also has a good training environment and infrastructure.I chose England because I could practice as a professional while studying at university. It has expanded.
The University of Roehampton, where I attended, does not have squash courts, but there is a club affiliated with the university at Wimbledon, which has four courts. In addition, the Roehampton Club, which is located right next to the university, has facilities where Wimbledon tennis qualifying events are held, and there are also six squash courts, which I am allowed to use.
I have visited England many times since my junior days for tournaments. Also, Misaki Kobayashi, who has been indebted to me for a long time (she has won eight consecutive All Japan Championships since 2009), is married to an Englishman and is based in the UK, so she told me, “I want to play squash.” I’ve heard that it’s an environment where you can study at the same time.”
[If you get injured and can’t play squash…]
── Didn’t you head to England immediately after graduating from high school?
“Yes. My results have been improving since I was 18, including winning my first All Japan Championship in 2017 and finishing runner-up in the junior division of the British Open, and I was ranked number one in the junior world rankings.
At that time, I was unsure whether I wanted to play squash alone as a professional player or not. There was also talk of receiving a scholarship from a British university to attend. However, I had a strong desire to continue playing squash as my main focus, so I put that topic on hold for a while.
And just when I decided to do my best as a professional, in the spring of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic began… Activities around the world have stopped. No squash tournaments were held for about two years, and I thought that if I got injured and couldn’t play squash anymore, there would be nothing left for me… Then I remembered the story from England and decided to study abroad. ”
── What kind of subject did you study at university?
“It’s sports science. For my graduation thesis, I measured the maximum oxygen uptake and recovery power of elite professional squash players and ordinary enthusiasts, and researched the data to find out what values professional athletes need. “I did.”
── Was it difficult to balance competition and studies?
“Yes, it was really difficult (bitter smile). However, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, many of my classes were shifted online, which lessened my burden and was surprisingly helpful. However, all classes and submissions were in English. I had to do it, so I was busy with exams and assignments every day.I think that helped me improve my time management skills and my English skills.”
── I understand that while balancing your studies, you also competed in professional squash tournaments overseas based in London?
“In Europe, there are frequent professional tournaments called PSAs, and if you play in a club league match, you get paid.I have played for both Wimbledon and Roehampton, and before this I played for Strasbourg, France. I also received offers from clubs to participate.”
[Dedicated to playing squash with the aim of competing in the Olympics]
──Are there a lot of matches?
“Yes, I have had the opportunity to experience many serious competitions with top players, not only in professional tournaments but also in club leagues. After all, you can only acquire a sense of the game through serious competition.
For example, I believe that the British environment helped me develop the ability to perceive a point that is impossible to lose. These four years at university were a really great experience.
It was tough, but I’m really glad I went to university in the UK.”
── I heard that you successfully graduated from university in September of this year.
“Since 2020, I have been active as a professional athlete while attending university, and I successfully held my graduation ceremony this September.Now that university is over, I am seriously aiming for the Olympics and am focusing solely on squash. I’m thinking of doing this.
To maintain your world ranking, you must compete in at least 15 professional tournaments per year. This year, I am planning to participate in the All Japan Championship to be held in Okayama in November. There are about five major tournaments in Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, and China, and the individual and team world championships are coming up in Hong Kong next February.
── By graduating from university and focusing on playing squash, I guess you will have some time to enjoy your personal hobbies.
“Until this summer, I only had time for squash and studying, so I didn’t have the time to focus on anything else.However, starting this year, I think I’ll have a little bit more free time, so I’m hoping to make use of it in the future. I hope you can find a hobby!”
(continued in the second part)
◆Satomi Watanabe, Part 2 >> “What I learned from studying abroad in Malaysia at the age of 12 and being ranked 5th in the world”
◆Squash Satomi Watanabe Photo Gallery >>
【profile】
Satomi Watanabe
Born on January 15, 1999, from Kanagawa Prefecture. He discovered squash at the age of 8 and went to Malaysia to study squash at the age of 12. After graduating from high school, he went to London to study and compete. He has won the All Japan Squash Championship five times in a row since 2017. In 2023, she became the first Japanese to win a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, and in March 2024, she defeated world No. 4 Nele Gillis, increasing her world ranking to No. 13. She aims to win a medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, which has become an official event.
Height: 170cm.
