October 18, 2025 • 13 mins
Kiwi squash star and world No.3 Paul Coll has won his first major PSA title in almost two years.
He's won the Qatar Classic, beating Egyptian and World No.1 Mostafa Asal in four key games.
He joined Piney to discuss further.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News TALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Can we squash number one and world number three Paul
Cole back in the winner's circle.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
First time.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
So many occasions.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
He last started twenty nineteen and.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Two more previous finals, but he's won in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Here last weekend, Paul Cole became the first New Zealander
to win the prestigious Cutter Classic, beating Egyptian world number
one staff for Assal eleven nine six eleven eleven eight
eleven five in the final. It was his first major
PSA title since winning the Hong Kong Open in December
twenty twenty three, and his first win over Mustaffa Asal
(00:55):
in their last seven meetings. He has relocated to Philadelphia,
where this weekend he is underway in the US Squash Open,
where he is the second seed, but he's taken time
to join Paul. Thanks for taking the time. What a
win for you and Cutter? Congratulations mate? How significant and
pleasing a victory was that for you?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Yeah, chairs mate, it was very a very rewarding victory.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
I felt like I, you know, started the season in
pretty good shape and I felt like I've been playing
well for quite a few months now, but it was
just sort of piecing it together in tournament play and
getting those performances that requires back to back to beat
you know, a few top guys in a road to
win those those big events. So I've actually, like I said,
been confident my game for a while. So yeah, just
(01:41):
happy I managed to turn up and clever a performance
that I was proud of and you know, managed to walk.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Away the title. So yeah, it was very rewarding when
that one.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Thinks, how do you manage yourself across a tournament? Because
it's not out of course they've got to win every game,
but do you have to leave some gas in the
tank for the big games at the at the business
end of the tournament.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I think definitely.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
What I sort of learned is not to get too
wrapped up of my first couple of rounds. Is not
you know, not exactly how I wanted to play, or
there's a few things I could work on. You know,
sometimes that would knock my confidence a bit back in
the day, but you know, just not to Obviously you
can need to peek back in the tournaments when you
want to win these, so if you're not one hundred
(02:27):
percent in the early rounds, but you're getting the job
done and you're getting the win, then yeah, I've sort
of learned not to get too caught up in that.
Obviously analyze that work, you know, think of things that
I can get better, but not let it affect my
confidence too much, because yeah, to operate, you know, five
matches to one hundred percent is going to be tough.
So yeah, it's about trying to get the best out
(02:48):
of you in those finals times, which you know, I
feel like I've I've got a bit better at doing
in my my older years. But yeah, it's definitely something
that I mean, you could definitely play well all four rounds,
but it's more than.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
If you're don't that.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
It's not not panic stations or you know, anything to
worry about too much.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
For Asyle, the world number one, he's been a fairly
regular opponent for you. Now you've beaten him seven times.
What do you have to do particularly well to beat him?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Yeah, a lot of of him as comes down to execution.
I think if I execute my game plan and you know,
keep the ball out of the middle of the court,
then I'm very confident. But He's so good that if
you sort of leave the ball in the middle of
the court or you give him an opening, he's very
good at finishing the ball or straight away.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
You know, he doesn't really miss many opportunities.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
So I mean, you know, if you sort of start
a bit slow, and you know, you give him four
or five opportunities and you can be four or five
love down before you even know it type thing. So
a lot of of him. I find his execution and
I sort of know how to play him. I feel
pretty calm from the game plan. But like I said,
you know, you can get away with missing a few
targets against some guys, but with him, he seems to
(04:02):
have a really good ability to put the ball away
straight away. So yeah, a lot of it comes down
to just, yeah, being very disciplined, very focused, and very
aware of what's going on. You know, if I missed
my target once, don't let it happen three or four
times in a row and let it snowball on me,
so which I think has definitely happened in the past,
you know, playing him. So it's again it's just staying
(04:24):
mentally focused and calm throughout the whole match and just
knowing exactly what I want to do, which and then
just executing, which I mean sounds easy than it is sometimes.
But yeah, like I said, I'm very confident if I
played well that I can beat them. It's just yeah,
getting those performances more regularly and finals times.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
You won the London Classic in early September, but then
a week later at the Egyptian Open, you lost to
world number two hundred and fifty two Adam Howaal what
happened that day?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, I mean I was very frustrated to myself after that.
Definitely let a big opportunity slip and I just didn't
didn't prepare fully, and I mean I just let I
just took a few things lightly, which you know, which
I was definitely the most frustrated at because you know,
(05:20):
what I hold myself to and my values is a
lot about professionalism and turning up one hundred percent every time.
And I mean I definitely, I definitely was there, but
there's a lot of things on the day that just
went against me. And it was one of those days
where it just I still don't even know how I
lost the match, to be honest, It's just the ref
went against me. Everything just seemed to go against me
(05:41):
that day, and it was just like the perfect storm
to lose, and my coach, you know, told me not
to even worry about it. Basically, it's one of those
things that you know, we didn't even analyze.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Really.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
We analyzed, you know, the preparation and stuff, but the
match itself, it was just sort of one of those
perfect storms. And he said, look, I mean, we don't
normally do this, but just forget about it, Like it
was so bad that it's not worth trying to learn
too much. So, yeah, it was pretty tough, though, you know,
I went home and did some you know, deep thinking
(06:12):
and to get myself back to competition level a week later.
Was a lot of workmen into it, which made the
victory even sweeter.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, it looked like it because there was a lot
of emotion. I know, you win tournaments, you're you're very happy,
but there was a lot of emotion when you won
that match. Was the winning Qatar even more special. Having
rebounded from that disappointment in Egypt, I.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Mate hugely rewarding just just bouncing back, you know, I
was actually very very nervous obviously in the first couple
of rounds.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
You know, tough, tough draw, So.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I was, Yeah, I was shit scared mate, to be honest,
to go out in another first round because I was
playing a guy who I could have lost to quite
easily first round. He was at a very tough draw.
So to get through like I was, I was, you know,
I was scared, mate. So to to bounce back, get
(07:08):
through those matches and then build into you know, the
best performance I've put in the year was super rewarding.
And just the work that went in the week before,
you know, it was tough week for me. I put
myself through the ring and just to you know, get
my head in the right space. So yeah, it took
a lot of effort, and like I said, just to
turn out a performance like that a week later, I
was very proud of myself to do that. And obviously
(07:28):
winning is a you know, everyone wants to do that,
but just to turn up and operate at my best,
I was very proud of myself for that.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You've been in the world's top ten now for over
a decade, You've been in the top five for the
last six years. How much has your game changed over
that time.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Yeah, I mean it's to be honest, that sounds crazy
to me to think about, but yeah, I mean my
game's still evolving. You know, as we speak at something
I enjoy about being an athlete, being able to constantly
look for areas to improve yourself. I think that's, you know,
one of the joys I get out of being an athlete,
just constantly evaluating how we can get better and learning
(08:10):
and learning new tricks, learning new fitness things, mental things.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
There's just so many doors to open it.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
It's what I find the most exciting about being an athlete,
Like I said, and I sort of lost that when
I went to one, a lot of things got result focused.
So just taking my learnings from that and even if
I get back to you know, two or one in
the world then just to sort of keep that same
mindset of operating at the top, but you know, never
being satisfied and just trying to trying to get better
(08:38):
every day.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So did being world number one almost in some ways
become a bit of a burden to you?
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
And no. I think it was the best time in
my life. I mean I still pinch myself. You know,
I'm great mates with Israel Dag now, which is you know,
someone who I grew up watching as an All Black
and a massive fanboy of them, and you know, now
we're good mates and just stuff like that was very overwhelming.
I think for me, it was pretty surreal to be
(09:10):
able to, you know, pick up the phone and call
someone like that. And I think it just got a
lot to me. And it was sort of got a
lot results based, you know. Obviously, when you get to
the top, it's like you're getting all this stuff thrown
at you and you sort of don't want it to stop,
and you think, you know, you just got to keep
winning for that stuff to keep happening. And that definitely
got a lot for me. Definitely was something I wasn't
(09:30):
used to. It wasn't equipped to handle. So I think
I learned a lot from that time though, and I
think hopefully if I get back there, then I'll be
better equipped to handle it. But at that time, it
was huge, you know, a huge thing for me and
very overwhelming with a lot, a lot of emotions and
everything just became very hard, you know, to compete, to
play and think clearly, it was a lot harder. So,
(09:53):
like I said, you know, lessons learned, and it's a
good experience to have I think it's put me in
a bit of shape for playing finals and stuff. Now
I definitely handle the situation better. So hopefully we can
get back there and you know, prove to myself that
I can, you know, belong there.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Indeed, your trademark across your career has always been your
relentless chasing down of lost causes, your full length dives
across the court. Are you still doing that as often
as you always have?
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah? Yeah, Unfortunately, my body, my body.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
If everyone asked me how I was coming off Katar,
and I was actually right physically, you know, but I
had no skin left on my fingers, my toes and.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
My knees were all shredded of skin.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
And I was like, my muscles are fine, but far
out putting my shoes on, my fingers floody bleeded. So
just stuff like that. It comes from the dives and stuff.
But again, it's my character, It's who I am, and
I don't even think about it, mate, It just happens
when I get desperate on there. So yeah, unfortunately, still
doing it at the ripe old age of thirty three.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Oh good on you, mate. May it go on for
a wee while longer. You've got the US Open obviously
to play from this weekend. Then I look at the
Golden Platinum let events coming up. There's the China Open
next month, then the Hong Kong Open in December, before
the PSA tour, it takes a break for a month
or so. There are other events too with Farley's prize
money attached to them. How selective are you now about
(11:21):
the tournaments that you play in?
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Very it definitely.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
One it'll be you know, obviously, first of all, I
need to peak at these big events, so I will
select tournaments that either help or basically just don't hinder
those events. So I will, you know, not play anything
pre US Open. There was a tournament in San Francisco
I could have played, but just with the travel and
jet lag, it just definitely wouldn't be operating at my
(11:49):
best at either sanfran and US so we decided to
skip that one. And then, yeah, so it's about you know,
preparing and peaking at those big ones and then just
choosing tournaments that I enjoy. So just trying to obviously
enjoy my last few years on tour. And you know
that's why you know, I decided to go to China.
I love Asia. I love the Asia Tour and I thought,
(12:10):
you know, it's a new one that I haven't been to,
so you know, a bit of excitement for me. But yeah,
just trying to enjoy my time on tour and choose
tournaments I want to go to and not you know,
just chasing points because it's a weekend try list or
something like that. Just yeah, more choosing what I want
to do and making sure my body's fresh and energetic
going into these majors.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
So I guess the big question is will your schedule
allow you to come home to defend your New Zealand
Squash Open title in March?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Hey, that's top of the list that one. I thenk
it goes will Champs, New Zeale and Open, so one
hundred percent be there.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
For that brilliant stuff. And squash is an Olympic sport
next time in twenty twenty eight in Los Angeles. It's
becoming an Olympian a major motivator for you as you
perhaps reached the back end of your career.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Yeah, it was huge, man.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Obviously you know I'm getting towards the end of my career,
so that was a huge motivator. And to be honest,
It's been amazing to be part of the an Olympic cycle.
My training has changed, but people I'm working with added
some new guys to my team, which is again bringing
new stuff to me, new lessons, new things I can learn.
(13:19):
So it's been awesome made it has been such a
little energy boost on the side for me to think
about that preparation of a four year Olympic campaign. I've
obviously heard, you know, some of my mates speak about it,
but never got to be a part of one. So
yet to have a four year Olympic campaign's pretty cool.
And you know, going through the selection and qualifying process
and just feeling that pressure and excitement that they all
(13:42):
have about it is really cool.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, very cool. Well, congracts on the Cutter Classic when
Paul all the best in the US Open and for
the rest of the year as well. Look forward to
seeing you back here in March for the New Zealand Open.
Thanks so much for taking the time this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk s B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News TALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Can we squash number one and world number three Paul
Cole back in the winner's circle.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
First time.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
So many occasions.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
He last started twenty nineteen and.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Two more previous finals, but he's won in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Here last weekend, Paul Cole became the first New Zealander
to win the prestigious Cutter Classic, beating Egyptian world number
one staff for Assal eleven nine six eleven eleven eight
eleven five in the final. It was his first major
PSA title since winning the Hong Kong Open in December
twenty twenty three, and his first win over Mustaffa Asal
(00:55):
in their last seven meetings. He has relocated to Philadelphia,
where this weekend he is underway in the US Squash Open,
where he is the second seed, but he's taken time
to join Paul. Thanks for taking the time. What a
win for you and Cutter? Congratulations mate? How significant and
pleasing a victory was that for you?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Yeah, chairs mate, it was very a very rewarding victory.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
I felt like I, you know, started the season in
pretty good shape and I felt like I've been playing
well for quite a few months now, but it was
just sort of piecing it together in tournament play and
getting those performances that requires back to back to beat
you know, a few top guys in a road to
win those those big events. So I've actually, like I said,
been confident my game for a while. So yeah, just
(01:41):
happy I managed to turn up and clever a performance
that I was proud of and you know, managed to walk.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Away the title. So yeah, it was very rewarding when
that one.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Thinks, how do you manage yourself across a tournament? Because
it's not out of course they've got to win every game,
but do you have to leave some gas in the
tank for the big games at the at the business
end of the tournament.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I think definitely.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
What I sort of learned is not to get too
wrapped up of my first couple of rounds. Is not
you know, not exactly how I wanted to play, or
there's a few things I could work on. You know,
sometimes that would knock my confidence a bit back in
the day, but you know, just not to Obviously you
can need to peek back in the tournaments when you
want to win these, so if you're not one hundred
(02:27):
percent in the early rounds, but you're getting the job
done and you're getting the win, then yeah, I've sort
of learned not to get too caught up in that.
Obviously analyze that work, you know, think of things that
I can get better, but not let it affect my
confidence too much, because yeah, to operate, you know, five
matches to one hundred percent is going to be tough.
So yeah, it's about trying to get the best out
(02:48):
of you in those finals times, which you know, I
feel like I've I've got a bit better at doing
in my my older years. But yeah, it's definitely something
that I mean, you could definitely play well all four rounds,
but it's more than.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
If you're don't that.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
It's not not panic stations or you know, anything to
worry about too much.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
For Asyle, the world number one, he's been a fairly
regular opponent for you. Now you've beaten him seven times.
What do you have to do particularly well to beat him?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Yeah, a lot of of him as comes down to execution.
I think if I execute my game plan and you know,
keep the ball out of the middle of the court,
then I'm very confident. But He's so good that if
you sort of leave the ball in the middle of
the court or you give him an opening, he's very
good at finishing the ball or straight away.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
You know, he doesn't really miss many opportunities.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
So I mean, you know, if you sort of start
a bit slow, and you know, you give him four
or five opportunities and you can be four or five
love down before you even know it type thing. So
a lot of of him. I find his execution and
I sort of know how to play him. I feel
pretty calm from the game plan. But like I said,
you know, you can get away with missing a few
targets against some guys, but with him, he seems to
(04:02):
have a really good ability to put the ball away
straight away. So yeah, a lot of it comes down
to just, yeah, being very disciplined, very focused, and very
aware of what's going on. You know, if I missed
my target once, don't let it happen three or four
times in a row and let it snowball on me,
so which I think has definitely happened in the past,
you know, playing him. So it's again it's just staying
(04:24):
mentally focused and calm throughout the whole match and just
knowing exactly what I want to do, which and then
just executing, which I mean sounds easy than it is sometimes.
But yeah, like I said, I'm very confident if I
played well that I can beat them. It's just yeah,
getting those performances more regularly and finals times.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
You won the London Classic in early September, but then
a week later at the Egyptian Open, you lost to
world number two hundred and fifty two Adam Howaal what
happened that day?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, I mean I was very frustrated to myself after that.
Definitely let a big opportunity slip and I just didn't
didn't prepare fully, and I mean I just let I
just took a few things lightly, which you know, which
I was definitely the most frustrated at because you know,
(05:20):
what I hold myself to and my values is a
lot about professionalism and turning up one hundred percent every time.
And I mean I definitely, I definitely was there, but
there's a lot of things on the day that just
went against me. And it was one of those days
where it just I still don't even know how I
lost the match, to be honest, It's just the ref
went against me. Everything just seemed to go against me
(05:41):
that day, and it was just like the perfect storm
to lose, and my coach, you know, told me not
to even worry about it. Basically, it's one of those
things that you know, we didn't even analyze.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Really.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
We analyzed, you know, the preparation and stuff, but the
match itself, it was just sort of one of those
perfect storms. And he said, look, I mean, we don't
normally do this, but just forget about it, Like it
was so bad that it's not worth trying to learn
too much. So, yeah, it was pretty tough, though, you know,
I went home and did some you know, deep thinking
(06:12):
and to get myself back to competition level a week later.
Was a lot of workmen into it, which made the
victory even sweeter.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, it looked like it because there was a lot
of emotion. I know, you win tournaments, you're you're very happy,
but there was a lot of emotion when you won
that match. Was the winning Qatar even more special. Having
rebounded from that disappointment in Egypt, I.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Mate hugely rewarding just just bouncing back, you know, I
was actually very very nervous obviously in the first couple
of rounds.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
You know, tough, tough draw, So.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I was, Yeah, I was shit scared mate, to be honest,
to go out in another first round because I was
playing a guy who I could have lost to quite
easily first round. He was at a very tough draw.
So to get through like I was, I was, you know,
I was scared, mate. So to to bounce back, get
(07:08):
through those matches and then build into you know, the
best performance I've put in the year was super rewarding.
And just the work that went in the week before,
you know, it was tough week for me. I put
myself through the ring and just to you know, get
my head in the right space. So yeah, it took
a lot of effort, and like I said, just to
turn out a performance like that a week later, I
was very proud of myself to do that. And obviously
(07:28):
winning is a you know, everyone wants to do that,
but just to turn up and operate at my best,
I was very proud of myself for that.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You've been in the world's top ten now for over
a decade, You've been in the top five for the
last six years. How much has your game changed over
that time.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Yeah, I mean it's to be honest, that sounds crazy
to me to think about, but yeah, I mean my
game's still evolving. You know, as we speak at something
I enjoy about being an athlete, being able to constantly
look for areas to improve yourself. I think that's, you know,
one of the joys I get out of being an athlete,
just constantly evaluating how we can get better and learning
(08:10):
and learning new tricks, learning new fitness things, mental things.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
There's just so many doors to open it.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
It's what I find the most exciting about being an athlete,
Like I said, and I sort of lost that when
I went to one, a lot of things got result focused.
So just taking my learnings from that and even if
I get back to you know, two or one in
the world then just to sort of keep that same
mindset of operating at the top, but you know, never
being satisfied and just trying to trying to get better
(08:38):
every day.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So did being world number one almost in some ways
become a bit of a burden to you?
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
And no. I think it was the best time in
my life. I mean I still pinch myself. You know,
I'm great mates with Israel Dag now, which is you know,
someone who I grew up watching as an All Black
and a massive fanboy of them, and you know, now
we're good mates and just stuff like that was very overwhelming.
I think for me, it was pretty surreal to be
(09:10):
able to, you know, pick up the phone and call
someone like that. And I think it just got a
lot to me. And it was sort of got a
lot results based, you know. Obviously, when you get to
the top, it's like you're getting all this stuff thrown
at you and you sort of don't want it to stop,
and you think, you know, you just got to keep
winning for that stuff to keep happening. And that definitely
got a lot for me. Definitely was something I wasn't
(09:30):
used to. It wasn't equipped to handle. So I think
I learned a lot from that time though, and I
think hopefully if I get back there, then I'll be
better equipped to handle it. But at that time, it
was huge, you know, a huge thing for me and
very overwhelming with a lot, a lot of emotions and
everything just became very hard, you know, to compete, to
play and think clearly, it was a lot harder. So,
(09:53):
like I said, you know, lessons learned, and it's a
good experience to have I think it's put me in
a bit of shape for playing finals and stuff. Now
I definitely handle the situation better. So hopefully we can
get back there and you know, prove to myself that
I can, you know, belong there.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Indeed, your trademark across your career has always been your
relentless chasing down of lost causes, your full length dives
across the court. Are you still doing that as often
as you always have?
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah? Yeah, Unfortunately, my body, my body.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
If everyone asked me how I was coming off Katar,
and I was actually right physically, you know, but I
had no skin left on my fingers, my toes and.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
My knees were all shredded of skin.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
And I was like, my muscles are fine, but far
out putting my shoes on, my fingers floody bleeded. So
just stuff like that. It comes from the dives and stuff.
But again, it's my character, It's who I am, and
I don't even think about it, mate, It just happens
when I get desperate on there. So yeah, unfortunately, still
doing it at the ripe old age of thirty three.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Oh good on you, mate. May it go on for
a wee while longer. You've got the US Open obviously
to play from this weekend. Then I look at the
Golden Platinum let events coming up. There's the China Open
next month, then the Hong Kong Open in December, before
the PSA tour, it takes a break for a month
or so. There are other events too with Farley's prize
money attached to them. How selective are you now about
(11:21):
the tournaments that you play in?
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Very it definitely.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
One it'll be you know, obviously, first of all, I
need to peak at these big events, so I will
select tournaments that either help or basically just don't hinder
those events. So I will, you know, not play anything
pre US Open. There was a tournament in San Francisco
I could have played, but just with the travel and
jet lag, it just definitely wouldn't be operating at my
(11:49):
best at either sanfran and US so we decided to
skip that one. And then, yeah, so it's about you know,
preparing and peaking at those big ones and then just
choosing tournaments that I enjoy. So just trying to obviously
enjoy my last few years on tour. And you know
that's why you know, I decided to go to China.
I love Asia. I love the Asia Tour and I thought,
(12:10):
you know, it's a new one that I haven't been to,
so you know, a bit of excitement for me. But yeah,
just trying to enjoy my time on tour and choose
tournaments I want to go to and not you know,
just chasing points because it's a weekend try list or
something like that. Just yeah, more choosing what I want
to do and making sure my body's fresh and energetic
going into these majors.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
So I guess the big question is will your schedule
allow you to come home to defend your New Zealand
Squash Open title in March?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Hey, that's top of the list that one. I thenk
it goes will Champs, New Zeale and Open, so one
hundred percent be there.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
For that brilliant stuff. And squash is an Olympic sport
next time in twenty twenty eight in Los Angeles. It's
becoming an Olympian a major motivator for you as you
perhaps reached the back end of your career.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Yeah, it was huge, man.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Obviously you know I'm getting towards the end of my career,
so that was a huge motivator. And to be honest,
It's been amazing to be part of the an Olympic cycle.
My training has changed, but people I'm working with added
some new guys to my team, which is again bringing
new stuff to me, new lessons, new things I can learn.
(13:19):
So it's been awesome made it has been such a
little energy boost on the side for me to think
about that preparation of a four year Olympic campaign. I've
obviously heard, you know, some of my mates speak about it,
but never got to be a part of one. So
yet to have a four year Olympic campaign's pretty cool.
And you know, going through the selection and qualifying process
and just feeling that pressure and excitement that they all
(13:42):
have about it is really cool.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, very cool. Well, congracts on the Cutter Classic when
Paul all the best in the US Open and for
the rest of the year as well. Look forward to
seeing you back here in March for the New Zealand Open.
Thanks so much for taking the time this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk s B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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