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Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Peruvian squash star Elias aims to win Tour Finals in adopted hometown of Toronto
TORONTO - Armed with an invite from Canadian squash legend Jonathon Power, Peru's Diego Elias was just 14 when he made his first appearance at Toronto's National Squash Academy. He would spend parts of his formative teenage years at the training centre under the watchful eye of Power and others as he aimed to one day join the Professional Squash Association tour. It also sparked a connection with the city, one that blossomed over the years and saw Elias move to Toronto in early 2024. He gets to sleep in his own bed this week with the SmartCentres PSA Tour Finals behind held in the Ontario capital. 'Since (2011) I've been coming (for a couple months) almost every year until I moved here, and I also spent the pandemic here,' Elias said after winning his opener at the season-ending tournament. 'So yeah, Toronto is like a second home.' The 28-year-old Lima native has reached lofty heights over his 12 years as a pro. In 2019, he won gold at the Pan Am Games in his home country. Four years later, Elias became the first South American to reach the No. 1 position in the world rankings. He won a world championship in 2024 and beat top-ranked Egyptian Mostafa Asal last month to win his first British Open title. Elias is hoping to cap another strong season in style with a victory at the five-day tournament at the Revival Film Studios. Elias, Asal and women's No. 1 Nouran Gohar of Egypt are some of the headliners. Elias, who opened with a 3-11, 11-6, 11-6 victory over Egypt's Karim Abdel Gawad, qualified for the semifinals Tuesday with a walkover win over New Zealand's Paul Coll, who withdrew with an ankle injury. Currently No. 2 in the world, the six-foot-two right-hander uses his wingspan to frequently cut off the ball and maintain maximum pressure on his opponents. His ability to hit quality length and fire winners from all corners of the court can make the 'Peruvian Puma' quite a handful. 'A lovely striker of the squash ball,' said Lee Beachill, a former world No. 1 and now the PSA's chief operating officer. 'And he plays the game in quite a pure way with the way he moves. 'He probably makes it (look) a little bit too easy at times.' Those skills were sharpened years ago at the 10-court NSA facility, which closed in 2016. '(He) was reserved and shy when he first arrived, but you could tell he had a quiet intensity that burned deep inside,' said Squash Canada CEO Jamie Nicholls, who co-founded the NSA. 'His potential didn't immediately jump off the page, but the way he incorporated coaching was off the charts. 'He would take something from (Power) or other players and within days had added new layers to his game.' Elias' father, Jose Manuel, has been his son's primary coach since his junior days. Power, who extended the invite north after Elias won the U.S. Junior Open, provided another coaching layer as an experienced former world No. 1. 'Since the first day, we got along very well and we spent a lot of time together on court,' said Elias, who called Power his favourite player. 'I learned so many things from him.' Power was one of the sport's most vocal, creative and entertaining players before his retirement in 2006. Few could match his deception on court and his varied skillset kept opponents on their heels. 'He's been at the highest level for so many years, so just learning how to be in every situation on court,' Elias said of his takeaways. 'I think I was eighth to 10th in the world for a lot of years and then (I got) more serious, more responsible, training harder and smarter, and learning all that from Jonathon was just very important for my career.' Power, who was not available for an interview, is now based in Qatar and working with 22nd-ranked Abdulla Al-Tamimi. He still checks in regularly with Elias, who said they remain great friends. Jose Manuel was in his son's corner for the opener of the US$635,000 event. A strong player in his own right, he would frequently join his son and others on the NSA courts back in the day. 'After practice ended, he would take on any Canadian national team members with gas in the tank and play for hours until there was no one left to spar with,' Nicholls said in an email. 'They became a big part of the NSA family. 'It was a lot of fun to watch a world champion develop right before our eyes.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Peruvian squash star Elias aims to win Tour Finals in adopted hometown of Toronto
TORONTO – Armed with an invite from Canadian squash legend Jonathon Power, Peru's Diego Elias was just 14 when he made his first appearance at Toronto's National Squash Academy. He would spend parts of his formative teenage years at the training centre under the watchful eye of Power and others as he aimed to one day join the Professional Squash Association tour. It also sparked a connection with the city, one that blossomed over the years and saw Elias move to Toronto in early 2024. He gets to sleep in his own bed this week with the SmartCentres PSA Tour Finals behind held in the Ontario capital. 'Since (2011) I've been coming (for a couple months) almost every year until I moved here, and I also spent the pandemic here,' Elias said after winning his opener at the season-ending tournament. 'So yeah, Toronto is like a second home.' The 28-year-old Lima native has reached lofty heights over his 12 years as a pro. In 2019, he won gold at the Pan Am Games in his home country. Four years later, Elias became the first South American to reach the No. 1 position in the world rankings. He won a world championship in 2024 and beat top-ranked Egyptian Mostafa Asal last month to win his first British Open title. Elias is hoping to cap another strong season in style with a victory at the five-day tournament at the Revival Film Studios. Elias, Asal and women's No. 1 Nouran Gohar of Egypt are some of the headliners. Elias, who opened with a 3-11, 11-6, 11-6 victory over Egypt's Karim Abdel Gawad, qualified for the semifinals Tuesday with a walkover win over New Zealand's Paul Coll, who withdrew with an ankle injury. Currently No. 2 in the world, the six-foot-two right-hander uses his wingspan to frequently cut off the ball and maintain maximum pressure on his opponents. His ability to hit quality length and fire winners from all corners of the court can make the 'Peruvian Puma' quite a handful. 'A lovely striker of the squash ball,' said Lee Beachill, a former world No. 1 and now the PSA's chief operating officer. 'And he plays the game in quite a pure way with the way he moves. 'He probably makes it (look) a little bit too easy at times.' Those skills were sharpened years ago at the 10-court NSA facility, which closed in 2016. '(He) was reserved and shy when he first arrived, but you could tell he had a quiet intensity that burned deep inside,' said Squash Canada CEO Jamie Nicholls, who co-founded the NSA. 'His potential didn't immediately jump off the page, but the way he incorporated coaching was off the charts. 'He would take something from (Power) or other players and within days had added new layers to his game.' Elias' father, Jose Manuel, has been his son's primary coach since his junior days. Power, who extended the invite north after Elias won the U.S. Junior Open, provided another coaching layer as an experienced former world No. 1. 'Since the first day, we got along very well and we spent a lot of time together on court,' said Elias, who called Power his favourite player. 'I learned so many things from him.' Power was one of the sport's most vocal, creative and entertaining players before his retirement in 2006. Few could match his deception on court and his varied skillset kept opponents on their heels. 'He's been at the highest level for so many years, so just learning how to be in every situation on court,' Elias said of his takeaways. 'I think I was eighth to 10th in the world for a lot of years and then (I got) more serious, more responsible, training harder and smarter, and learning all that from Jonathon was just very important for my career.' Power, who was not available for an interview, is now based in Qatar and working with 22nd-ranked Abdulla Al-Tamimi. He still checks in regularly with Elias, who said they remain great friends. Jose Manuel was in his son's corner for the opener of the US$635,000 event. A strong player in his own right, he would frequently join his son and others on the NSA courts back in the day. 'After practice ended, he would take on any Canadian national team members with gas in the tank and play for hours until there was no one left to spar with,' Nicholls said in an email. 'They became a big part of the NSA family. 'It was a lot of fun to watch a world champion develop right before our eyes.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Pro squash gets the studio treatment in Toronto ahead of Olympic debut at ‘28 Games
TORONTO - Much has changed on the pro squash scene since Lee Beachill was last in Toronto as a tour player nearly two decades ago. The broadcast product has improved exponentially. Replay challenges have helped match flow and cut down on player-referee interaction. And the biggie, of course, is squash can finally be called an Olympic sport. The SmartCentres PSA Tour Finals, which started Monday at the Revival Film Studios in the city's east end, are serving as a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Los Angeles Games in 2028. 'I just think the tie-in with the whole film side of it and the fact that we're going to be on the 'Back to the Future' lot in Universal (Studios) in three years time is just quite a nice tie-in,' said Beachill, now the Pro Squash Association's chief operating officer. The Toronto studio, which lists 'Good Will Hunting,' 'Cinderella Man' and 'Pixels' among the 200-plus films on its credit list, is hosting the five-day competition. With limited invites to the top eight men's and women's players in the world, the all-glass showcourt shines brightly in the heart of the 12,000-square foot Stage 3, complete with a backcourt grandstand with theatrical touches throughout. A set that mimicked the Harrow School — a facility near London, England where squash was born nearly two centuries ago — has been erected behind the court. Photos of the sport's greats adorn the walls inside the doors — Hashim Khan, Nicol David and Canada's Jonathon Power to name a few — along with an Olympic poster featuring the L.A. Games logo. 'I think we'll be the talk of LA28 in terms of the venue being so unique,' Beachill said. 'I think it'll be one of those tickets that people will want to get their hands on to come and watch. 'Not just necessarily because it's squash but just the experience of going to watch an Olympic sport at Universal Studios is probably a once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity).' Beachill, a former world No. 1, made several appearances as a player in Toronto when the city hosted the YMG Capital Classic (later called the Pace Canadian Squash Classic) at nearby Brookfield Place. When plans to hold the 2004-25 Tour Finals in Bellevue, Wash., fell apart, the Ontario capital moved to the forefront as a host city. Beachill said it helped that Toronto has always been a solid squash market. 'I want to continue to try and bring this level of event and this level of athlete back here year after year,' he said. 'So that's what we're going to be working on, hopefully we can have a few conversations this week and see where we go for next year and the years to come.' An image of Power's diving frame is imprinted on the top of the 'Power Court' that's being used for the US$635,000 tournament. Each eight-player field is split into two pools for group play with competition continuing through the finals on Friday. In afternoon play Monday, top-ranked Mostafa Asal of Egypt dumped England's Marwan ElShorbagy 11-1, 11-3 and Joel Makin of Wales defeated Egypt's Youssef Soliman 11-5, 11-8. In the women's draw, Japan's Satomi Watanabe outlasted Egypt's Fayrouz Aboelkheir 11-7, 9-11, 13-11 and American Olivia Weaver topped Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam 11-9, 11-9. In evening matches, top-ranked Nouran Gohar of Egypt beat American Amanda Sobhy 11-6, 10-11, 11-6 and England's Georgina Kennedy defeated Belgium's Tinne Gilis 11-10, 6-11, 11-3. Toronto-based Diego Elias of Peru defeated Egypt's Karim Abdel Gawad 3-11, 11-6, 11-6 and New Zealand's Paul Coll posted a 11-10, 11-4 win over England's Mohamed ElShorbagy. Toronto has a rich history with pro squash. In addition to the YMG/Canadian Classic era, legendary rivals Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan met in a memorable match at the 1990 Mennen Cup. The city has hosted several editions of the national championships. Squash was also played at Exhibition Place in west-end Toronto when the city hosted the 2015 Pan Am Games. The Canadian Women's Open was added to the tour in 2023 and rose to silver status last year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Sun
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Pro squash gets studio treatment in Toronto ahead of Olympic debut in 2028
Published Jun 23, 2025 • 3 minute read Egypt's Mostafa Asal takes on England's Marwan El Shorbagy at the PSA Squash Tour Finals in Toronto on Monday, June 23, 2025. Photo by Chris Young / The Canadian Press Much has changed on the pro squash scene since Lee Beachill was last in Toronto as a tour player nearly two decades ago. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The broadcast product has improved exponentially. Replay challenges have helped match flow and cut down on player-referee interaction. And the biggie, of course, is squash can finally be called an Olympic sport. The SmartCentres PSA Tour Finals, which started Monday at the Revival Film Studios in the city's east end, are serving as a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Los Angeles Games in 2028. 'I just think the tie-in with the whole film side of it and the fact that we're going to be on the Back to the Future lot in Universal (Studios) in three years time is just quite a nice tie-in,' said Beachill, now the Pro Squash Association's chief operating officer. The Toronto studio, which lists Good Will Hunting , Cinderella Man and Pixels among the 200-plus films on its credit list, is hosting the five-day competition. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With limited invites to the top eight men's and women's players in the world, the all-glass showcourt shines brightly in the heart of the 12,000-square-foot Stage 3, complete with a backcourt grandstand with theatrical touches throughout. Read More A set that mimicked the Harrow School — a facility near London where squash was born nearly two centuries ago — has been erected behind the court. Photos of the sport's greats adorn the walls inside the doors — Hashim Khan, Nicol David and Canada's Jonathon Power, to name a few — along with an Olympic poster featuring the L.A. Games logo. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think we'll be the talk of LA28 in terms of the venue being so unique,' Beachill said. 'I think it'll be one of those tickets that people will want to get their hands on to come and watch. 'Not just necessarily because it's squash but just the experience of going to watch an Olympic sport at Universal Studios is probably a once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity).' Beachill, a former world No. 1, made several appearances as a player in Toronto when the city hosted the YMG Capital Classic (later called the Pace Canadian Squash Classic) at nearby Brookfield Place. When plans to hold the 2004-25 Tour Finals in Bellevue, Wash., fell apart, the Ontario capital moved to the forefront as a host city. Beachill said it helped that Toronto has always been a solid squash market. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I want to continue to try and bring this level of event and this level of athlete back here year after year,' he said. 'So that's what we're going to be working on, hopefully we can have a few conversations this week and see where we go for next year and the years to come.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO An image of Power's diving frame is imprinted on the top of the Power Court that's being used for the $635,000 US tournament. Each eight-player field is split into two pools for group play with competition continuing through the finals on Friday. In Monday afternoon play, top-ranked Mostafa Asal of Egypt dumped England's Marwan ElShorbagy 11-1, 11-3 and Joel Makin of Wales defeated Egypt's Youssef Soliman 11-5, 11-8. In the women's draw, Japan's Satomi Watanabe outlasted Egypt's Fayrouz Aboelkheir 11-7, 9-11, 13-11 and American Olivia Weaver topped Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam 11-9, 11-9. Toronto has a rich history with pro squash. In addition to the YMG/Canadian Classic era, legendary rivals Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan met in a memorable match at the 1990 Mennen Cup. The city has hosted several editions of the national championships. Squash was also played at Exhibition Place when the city hosted the 2015 Pan Am Games. The Canadian Women's Open was added to the tour in 2023 and rose to silver status last year. Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Maple Leafs Television Other Sports
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Pro squash gets the studio treatment in Toronto ahead of Olympic debut at '28 Games
TORONTO – Much has changed on the pro squash scene since Lee Beachill was last in Toronto as a tour player nearly two decades ago. The broadcast product has improved exponentially. Replay challenges have helped match flow and cut down on player-referee interaction. And the biggie, of course, is squash can finally be called an Olympic sport. The SmartCentres PSA Tour Finals, which started Monday at the Revival Film Studios in the city's east end, are serving as a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Los Angeles Games in 2028. 'I just think the tie-in with the whole film side of it and the fact that we're going to be on the 'Back to the Future' lot in Universal (Studios) in three years time is just quite a nice tie-in,' said Beachill, now the Pro Squash Association's chief operating officer. The Toronto studio, which lists 'Good Will Hunting,' 'Cinderella Man' and 'Pixels' among the 200-plus films on its credit list, is hosting the five-day competition. With limited invites to the top eight men's and women's players in the world, the all-glass showcourt shines brightly in the heart of the 12,000-square foot Stage 3, complete with a backcourt grandstand with theatrical touches throughout. A set that mimicked the Harrow School — a facility near London, England where squash was born nearly two centuries ago — has been erected behind the court. Photos of the sport's greats adorn the walls inside the doors — Hashim Khan, Nicol David and Canada's Jonathon Power to name a few — along with an Olympic poster featuring the L.A. Games logo. 'I think we'll be the talk of LA28 in terms of the venue being so unique,' Beachill said. 'I think it'll be one of those tickets that people will want to get their hands on to come and watch. 'Not just necessarily because it's squash but just the experience of going to watch an Olympic sport at Universal Studios is probably a once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity).' Beachill, a former world No. 1, made several appearances as a player in Toronto when the city hosted the YMG Capital Classic (later called the Pace Canadian Squash Classic) at nearby Brookfield Place. When plans to hold the 2004-25 Tour Finals in Bellevue, Wash., fell apart, the Ontario capital moved to the forefront as a host city. Beachill said it helped that Toronto has always been a solid squash market. 'I want to continue to try and bring this level of event and this level of athlete back here year after year,' he said. 'So that's what we're going to be working on, hopefully we can have a few conversations this week and see where we go for next year and the years to come.' An image of Power's diving frame is imprinted on the top of the 'Power Court' that's being used for the US$635,000 tournament. Each eight-player field is split into two pools for group play with competition continuing through the finals on Friday. In Monday afternoon play, top-ranked Mostafa Asal of Egypt dumped England's Marwan ElShorbagy 11-1, 11-3 and Joel Makin of Wales defeated Egypt's Youssef Soliman 11-5, 11-8. In the women's draw, Japan's Satomi Watanabe outlasted Egypt's Fayrouz Aboelkheir 11-7, 9-11, 13-11 and American Olivia Weaver topped Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam 11-9, 11-9. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Toronto has a rich history with pro squash. In addition to the YMG/Canadian Classic era, legendary rivals Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan met in a memorable match at the 1990 Mennen Cup. The city has hosted several editions of the national championships. Squash was also played at Exhibition Place in west-end Toronto when the city hosted the 2015 Pan Am Games. The Canadian Women's Open was added to the tour in 2023 and rose to silver status last year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
