March 10, 2025 • 9 mins
Paul Coll admits fulfilling a dream by winning the New Zealand Open squash title in front of a record crowd in Christchurch.
The 32-year-old says the tournament exceeded expectations.
A 2-time British Open Champion as well as a Commonwealth Games Champion, Coll is currently ranked number 4 in the world.
He told Mike Hosking the tournament was a really good week for everyone involved, especially him, but he knows that those who travelled from abroad to compete had a good time.
He says he was trying to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the competition, but he also played the best squash he has all season.
“I’m looking forward to pushing off for the rest of the season – excited to keep playing.”
Coll now travels to Brisbane to compete in the Australian Open, which is a gold ranking event.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's a good start of the year for our biggest
(00:02):
name in squash. Paul Cole defended this New Zealand title
of the weekend as we told you about. Of course
it's onto The Australian Open begins today, but he's got
a buy so that gives them a chance to jump
on the phone have a word with us.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning, yeah, good morning, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
So how did the weekend feel for you? I mean,
must must be a bit special given the old hometown.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Oh mate, the whole week was pretty special from you know,
when I walked in into the venue on Monday, I
could I just got this weird sort of feeling that
it was going to be a wicked week and the
venue was special without anybody in it. And then when
it was you know, in the weekend, when it was
packed or twelve hundred people, it was something, you know,
a memory that I was sort of cheer us forever.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Now did it sort of look any different? I mean
that stage or the court on the stage. I mean
it's not the first time it's ever been done, obviously,
but from a player's point of view, from an esthetic anyway,
it was absolutely brilliant. As a player, do you notice
it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, Like I think everyone when they walked in, they
sort of got that feeling of, you know, it did
feel special, felt different, And I think you can tell
by everyone thought it was really up for the tournament
and really wanted to do well and play well. And
I think that just goes to show how good the
sort of venue and set up was. I think, you know,
as soon as you get something like that, you can
(01:13):
see the players feed off the energy and the atmosphere
that are there. So it was a really good week
everyone involved, Like for me especially obviously, like you said,
being my hometown. But you know, I know all the
people that came from abroad had such a good time,
and you know, the crowd welcomed them in the true kiway,
So it was great to see.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
And what about the pressure good did you feel that,
given you know you're defending the title?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Actually not so much, to be honest, I sort of
the last couple of years I probably felt a bit
more pressure playing here, but this year I just sort
of went in the mindset that I really just wanted
to soak it all up and embrace it rather than
try and block it out. So you had a lot
of my family there and I was just just hanging
out with them during the day and enjoying it. Then
you know, when I went to play and seeing the crowd,
(01:57):
I just sort of, you know, I really soak it
up other than trying to block it out. I think,
you know, sometimes and I try and block it out
that it actually creates more more pressure and more nervous
nervousness there. So I felt mentally felt great all week,
and you know, just trying to try and use this
as a bit of a leaping board for the for
the rest of the season.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
And when don't we talk about the hometown, I mean,
is it really a hometown. I mean, christ you came
to board, didn't you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
No, I'm definitely a greymouth boy through and through, but
I came over here to do boarding school, so I
have a lot of friends and most of my squash
was played in christ Hip, so definitely feels like a
bit of a home for my squash specifically. But you know,
I'm always a gravemough boy. But yeah, like it was
a it was a good week to see so many
(02:41):
familiar faces that I played into club with on a
Tuesday night.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Now, the sport itself, I mean there was a record
number of people watching that. Our son, for example, he
was at the Edinburgh Squash Club. They were all watching it.
It seems squash has got a bit of a thing
going at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, I think so, mate, for sure. We just got
into the Olympics for the first time, which is a
great boost for squash. But seeing this week at christ
Hitch and the New Zealand specifically, it's it's taking off
a lot. Man. There's a lot of support around the
sport in New Zealand which is great to see. We've
got a young junior coming through now which is really
nice to see as well. So as in a pretty
(03:17):
healthy shape in museum I think. And you know, if
we can get a few more juniors coming through and
pushing onto the international stage, that would just be like
that next step that we need. But it's definitely a
healthy community here and that just showed the numbers of
ticket sales this week and Crash it fantastic.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Speaking to him is Paul let me, I'll come back
to the Olympics in just a moment. But so what
have we got You've got a title the other day
in America. You got the title over the weekend. So
it's a good start good year.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Yes, it was. I've been playing really well. I just
haven't been getting you know, the winds of tournaments, and
you know that's probably just putting a bit of pressure
on myself to win the events. So, like I said,
this week, it was more about soaking up the atmosphere
and enjoying it. And I you know, played the best
squash I'll play season and got another title. So yeah,
(04:02):
definitely feeling good in the mental space. And like I said,
my squash has been there all season. I feel like
I've been hitting it really well, just not quite pissing
it all together. So yeah, I made I'm looking forward
to pushing off the rest of the season, excited to
keep playing. Like I said, mentally, feeling really good now
and the squash is there. So I've got a couple
of big events that I'm really targeting coming up and
(04:22):
just looking forward to those.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I was going to ask about that actually, So of
all the tournaments you can play, how many do you
target and how do you balance that up, you know
with travel and fitness and fatigue and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, we've got probably nine big tournaments a year now,
so obviously I try and I try and not play
too many events before them because that takes a bit
out of you. So normally try and have like a
training block before the big ones, which is, like I
said's about nine a year, and then take color ones
around that that's at my timetable obviously open for me
(04:54):
is one that I always target and want to feel
good coming into. So that's you know, we take that off.
But then I've got real chair in May, so just
sort of trying to plan in a schedule where I'm
not too fatigue from travel or tournament play going into
that one.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And as far as Australia goes, having got this title,
is it the same field roughly, so you'll go and
feeling pretty good about winning in Australia this week as
well or not.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Yeah, definitely top threed in that one as well. So
the draw definitely is pretty similar to the couple were
coming from overseas because it's a slightly bigger event. But yeah, basically,
you know, my draw is actually reily similar as what
it was this week. So yeah, looking feeling confident and
I'm feeling energy wise, feeling pretty good. So I have
(05:35):
a lot of friends and I as oh, I have.
I played a lot of my squash there when I
started that professional so I haven't been back there and
you know, ten ideas, so looking forward to to kicking
off there in a few days now.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
You mentioned the world champion in Chicago this year, and
I know there's another big one in Washington coming up
as well. Is America playing an increasingly large role or
sort of omniprisiond and squash or Am I just making
that up?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
No, They've always got you know, there's quite a lot
of importaments floating around in America. I think it's quite
a The problem they have is squash has paid in
you know a lot of country clubs where the joining
sea is very very expensive, so not everyone has the
access to play squaffs there. But there's a definitely like
a like I said, a lot of sort of courts
(06:16):
and stuff around. It's just getting their accessibilities to everyone.
I think the Olympics, especially being in America, that definitely
making this was that, and I think up a whole
lot of centers that are are more public rather than private,
which is great to see. And yeah, like there's definitely
some really strong women coming through and some younger guys
(06:36):
coming through as well. They're doing really well at the
junior level now, so their program is doing well.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So in general you would argue, what in terms of
talents and players and young people coming through the game
is improving?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, exactly. There's definitely definitely some more countries getting involved,
which is great to see, and some countries that you
might not expect used to be a powerhouse and Aussie
but you know they're not, sort of they're any more.
But there's a few more countries like America stepping up
and it's great to see that the sport's going quite
global now.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And when you mentioned the Olympics, I mean, have you
thought about how you target that? What does it mean?
I mean, is a World championship more important than a
gold medal? Advice versa or it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It's been quite funny for me, as you know, I'm
late in my career, but it's a it's like a
new process. I've never had an Olympic Olympic campaign and
so i'm you know, speaking to a few people from
high performance sport just on how you sort of prep
for an Olympic campaign, which is it's quite weird because
it's you know, a four year process. And like I said,
this is I'm thirty two, and this is the first
(07:36):
time I've sort of thought about a four year plan.
I've always thought about having World Champs every month, so
one it's months every year. But this is obviously like
a four year plan. So it's quite cool to experience it.
And you know, you sort of when you get involved
with prepping for an Olympic Games, you really feel how
important it is. So I'm super excited for that. But
you know, I've got a few will Champs between now
(07:57):
and then, so I'm sort of focusing on the World Champs,
but definitely in the Olympics. There's something pretty big for me.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Fantastic And when you talk about late in your career,
what are your thoughts around that, what are you looking at? Physical? Mental?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Bit of both, yeah, but both. Obviously, I think squash
is a very physical sport, so if you don't, you know,
I'm pretty smart of my body. But you know, I mean,
age is definitely a factor. If you start slowing down,
then it's just a disadvantage purelier there. So it's about,
you know, keeping my schedule and my training so that
keeps me in shape to later in my career. But
(08:29):
I mean the way the technologies go in these days
that you can play until you're thirty five for six
thirty eight, it's obviously just a lot depends on the
sort of physical side. I think, you know, mentally it's
pretty easy to get up for an Olympic Games or
a will Chamce, so it's not really an issue. But
obviously that's the body's not doing what the mine wants
to do. Then you've got a bit of an issue.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Brilliant. Congratulations again on the weekend. Go well in Australia
this week and hopefully we'll talk again before the end
of the year.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Right, thanks, might really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Cool nowhere is it all talk? Sir Paul Cole on
his way to Australia for the week. It's say, what
has you got? He's got after this one? He's got
the German Open, some Champs in London, the Manchester Open,
then the World qualifying. Then you've got the big International
Open in Egypt in the early part of April. It
must be interesting. We should talk to somebody about it. Sometimes,
you know, when you're thirty five, thirty six, thirty seven,
you're thinking, right, this is coming to an end, what next,
(09:17):
Big decisions, Ay Interesting decisions. For more from the mic
Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks it'd be from
six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
It's a good start of the year for our biggest
(00:02):
name in squash. Paul Cole defended this New Zealand title
of the weekend as we told you about. Of course
it's onto The Australian Open begins today, but he's got
a buy so that gives them a chance to jump
on the phone have a word with us.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning, yeah, good morning, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
So how did the weekend feel for you? I mean,
must must be a bit special given the old hometown.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Oh mate, the whole week was pretty special from you know,
when I walked in into the venue on Monday, I
could I just got this weird sort of feeling that
it was going to be a wicked week and the
venue was special without anybody in it. And then when
it was you know, in the weekend, when it was
packed or twelve hundred people, it was something, you know,
a memory that I was sort of cheer us forever.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Now did it sort of look any different? I mean
that stage or the court on the stage. I mean
it's not the first time it's ever been done, obviously,
but from a player's point of view, from an esthetic anyway,
it was absolutely brilliant. As a player, do you notice
it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, Like I think everyone when they walked in, they
sort of got that feeling of, you know, it did
feel special, felt different, And I think you can tell
by everyone thought it was really up for the tournament
and really wanted to do well and play well. And
I think that just goes to show how good the
sort of venue and set up was. I think, you know,
as soon as you get something like that, you can
(01:13):
see the players feed off the energy and the atmosphere
that are there. So it was a really good week
everyone involved, Like for me especially obviously, like you said,
being my hometown. But you know, I know all the
people that came from abroad had such a good time,
and you know, the crowd welcomed them in the true kiway,
So it was great to see.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
And what about the pressure good did you feel that,
given you know you're defending the title?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Actually not so much, to be honest, I sort of
the last couple of years I probably felt a bit
more pressure playing here, but this year I just sort
of went in the mindset that I really just wanted
to soak it all up and embrace it rather than
try and block it out. So you had a lot
of my family there and I was just just hanging
out with them during the day and enjoying it. Then
you know, when I went to play and seeing the crowd,
(01:57):
I just sort of, you know, I really soak it
up other than trying to block it out. I think,
you know, sometimes and I try and block it out
that it actually creates more more pressure and more nervous
nervousness there. So I felt mentally felt great all week,
and you know, just trying to try and use this
as a bit of a leaping board for the for
the rest of the season.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
And when don't we talk about the hometown, I mean,
is it really a hometown. I mean, christ you came
to board, didn't you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
No, I'm definitely a greymouth boy through and through, but
I came over here to do boarding school, so I
have a lot of friends and most of my squash
was played in christ Hip, so definitely feels like a
bit of a home for my squash specifically. But you know,
I'm always a gravemough boy. But yeah, like it was
a it was a good week to see so many
(02:41):
familiar faces that I played into club with on a
Tuesday night.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Now, the sport itself, I mean there was a record
number of people watching that. Our son, for example, he
was at the Edinburgh Squash Club. They were all watching it.
It seems squash has got a bit of a thing
going at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, I think so, mate, for sure. We just got
into the Olympics for the first time, which is a
great boost for squash. But seeing this week at christ
Hitch and the New Zealand specifically, it's it's taking off
a lot. Man. There's a lot of support around the
sport in New Zealand which is great to see. We've
got a young junior coming through now which is really
nice to see as well. So as in a pretty
(03:17):
healthy shape in museum I think. And you know, if
we can get a few more juniors coming through and
pushing onto the international stage, that would just be like
that next step that we need. But it's definitely a
healthy community here and that just showed the numbers of
ticket sales this week and Crash it fantastic.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Speaking to him is Paul let me, I'll come back
to the Olympics in just a moment. But so what
have we got You've got a title the other day
in America. You got the title over the weekend. So
it's a good start good year.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Yes, it was. I've been playing really well. I just
haven't been getting you know, the winds of tournaments, and
you know that's probably just putting a bit of pressure
on myself to win the events. So, like I said,
this week, it was more about soaking up the atmosphere
and enjoying it. And I you know, played the best
squash I'll play season and got another title. So yeah,
(04:02):
definitely feeling good in the mental space. And like I said,
my squash has been there all season. I feel like
I've been hitting it really well, just not quite pissing
it all together. So yeah, I made I'm looking forward
to pushing off the rest of the season, excited to
keep playing. Like I said, mentally, feeling really good now
and the squash is there. So I've got a couple
of big events that I'm really targeting coming up and
(04:22):
just looking forward to those.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I was going to ask about that actually, So of
all the tournaments you can play, how many do you
target and how do you balance that up, you know
with travel and fitness and fatigue and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, we've got probably nine big tournaments a year now,
so obviously I try and I try and not play
too many events before them because that takes a bit
out of you. So normally try and have like a
training block before the big ones, which is, like I
said's about nine a year, and then take color ones
around that that's at my timetable obviously open for me
(04:54):
is one that I always target and want to feel
good coming into. So that's you know, we take that off.
But then I've got real chair in May, so just
sort of trying to plan in a schedule where I'm
not too fatigue from travel or tournament play going into
that one.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And as far as Australia goes, having got this title,
is it the same field roughly, so you'll go and
feeling pretty good about winning in Australia this week as
well or not.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Yeah, definitely top threed in that one as well. So
the draw definitely is pretty similar to the couple were
coming from overseas because it's a slightly bigger event. But yeah, basically,
you know, my draw is actually reily similar as what
it was this week. So yeah, looking feeling confident and
I'm feeling energy wise, feeling pretty good. So I have
(05:35):
a lot of friends and I as oh, I have.
I played a lot of my squash there when I
started that professional so I haven't been back there and
you know, ten ideas, so looking forward to to kicking
off there in a few days now.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
You mentioned the world champion in Chicago this year, and
I know there's another big one in Washington coming up
as well. Is America playing an increasingly large role or
sort of omniprisiond and squash or Am I just making
that up?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
No, They've always got you know, there's quite a lot
of importaments floating around in America. I think it's quite
a The problem they have is squash has paid in
you know a lot of country clubs where the joining
sea is very very expensive, so not everyone has the
access to play squaffs there. But there's a definitely like
a like I said, a lot of sort of courts
(06:16):
and stuff around. It's just getting their accessibilities to everyone.
I think the Olympics, especially being in America, that definitely
making this was that, and I think up a whole
lot of centers that are are more public rather than private,
which is great to see. And yeah, like there's definitely
some really strong women coming through and some younger guys
(06:36):
coming through as well. They're doing really well at the
junior level now, so their program is doing well.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So in general you would argue, what in terms of
talents and players and young people coming through the game
is improving?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, exactly. There's definitely definitely some more countries getting involved,
which is great to see, and some countries that you
might not expect used to be a powerhouse and Aussie
but you know they're not, sort of they're any more.
But there's a few more countries like America stepping up
and it's great to see that the sport's going quite
global now.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And when you mentioned the Olympics, I mean, have you
thought about how you target that? What does it mean?
I mean, is a World championship more important than a
gold medal? Advice versa or it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It's been quite funny for me, as you know, I'm
late in my career, but it's a it's like a
new process. I've never had an Olympic Olympic campaign and
so i'm you know, speaking to a few people from
high performance sport just on how you sort of prep
for an Olympic campaign, which is it's quite weird because
it's you know, a four year process. And like I said,
this is I'm thirty two, and this is the first
(07:36):
time I've sort of thought about a four year plan.
I've always thought about having World Champs every month, so
one it's months every year. But this is obviously like
a four year plan. So it's quite cool to experience it.
And you know, you sort of when you get involved
with prepping for an Olympic Games, you really feel how
important it is. So I'm super excited for that. But
you know, I've got a few will Champs between now
(07:57):
and then, so I'm sort of focusing on the World Champs,
but definitely in the Olympics. There's something pretty big for me.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Fantastic And when you talk about late in your career,
what are your thoughts around that, what are you looking at? Physical? Mental?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Bit of both, yeah, but both. Obviously, I think squash
is a very physical sport, so if you don't, you know,
I'm pretty smart of my body. But you know, I mean,
age is definitely a factor. If you start slowing down,
then it's just a disadvantage purelier there. So it's about,
you know, keeping my schedule and my training so that
keeps me in shape to later in my career. But
(08:29):
I mean the way the technologies go in these days
that you can play until you're thirty five for six
thirty eight, it's obviously just a lot depends on the
sort of physical side. I think, you know, mentally it's
pretty easy to get up for an Olympic Games or
a will Chamce, so it's not really an issue. But
obviously that's the body's not doing what the mine wants
to do. Then you've got a bit of an issue.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Brilliant. Congratulations again on the weekend. Go well in Australia
this week and hopefully we'll talk again before the end
of the year.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Right, thanks, might really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Cool nowhere is it all talk? Sir Paul Cole on
his way to Australia for the week. It's say, what
has you got? He's got after this one? He's got
the German Open, some Champs in London, the Manchester Open,
then the World qualifying. Then you've got the big International
Open in Egypt in the early part of April. It
must be interesting. We should talk to somebody about it. Sometimes,
you know, when you're thirty five, thirty six, thirty seven,
you're thinking, right, this is coming to an end, what next,
(09:17):
Big decisions, Ay Interesting decisions. For more from the mic
Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks it'd be from
six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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