Resilience and Passion: Adel Sammons' Squash Story

In the world of squash, stories of passion, resilience, and global journeys are not uncommon, but few are as compelling as that of Adel Sammons. Recently, we had the privilege of diving deep into Adel’s experiences, from her early days in South Africa to her current role coaching at Open Squash in New York City. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, the love of sport, and the desire to make a meaningful impact.

Watch Adel's Boast About It interview on video here. 

Adel’s introduction to squash was serendipitous. “I had an older brother who played squash, so I was around it a lot,” she said. Growing up in a small town in South Africa, the local club was a central part of their lives. However, squash wasn't her sole focus initially. “I played other sports at school. So it was netball, it was track, field hockey, swimming, anything I could get my hands on. And then squash was sort of something my family did outside of all of that.” It wasn't until high school that she began to take squash more seriously, setting her sights on making the South African team. “I think I was 16, I decided I wanted to really go for the South African team and try and make it and so I put in some hard work… I think within two years I was in the top ten in the country.”

Her university years at the University of Johannesburg further solidified her passion for squash. “Great place for squash. We won all four years at the national,” she said. Initially starting at number four or five on the team, she worked her way up to number one, playing alongside some of the country’s best female squash players. However, her path wasn't a straight shot to professional play. While studying sports management, she considered becoming a biokineticist. It was a visit to her parents in Qatar that introduced her to the possibility of a professional career.

“I went to visit them on my summer break and worked at the Doha club. And I met Joey Barrington,” she said—referring to Jonah Barrington’s son, the former PSA World Tour professional and now, lead commentator for the Professional Squash Association. This experience, along with encouragement from others, led Adel to England, where she started coaching and eventually dipped her toes into the PSA Tour. 

Adel’s experience on the Pro Tour was a mix of highs and lows. Officially joining in 2007 and playing until 2013, she candidly admitted, “But I only was full time for two years… the rest of the time I was working and hustling.” Reaching a career-high ranking of 53, she described the challenges of making it in the 50 to 60 range. “It’s tough. You know, when you start out, that’s why you have to have other jobs. We weren’t getting much funding from South Africa. So, you know, coaching, working in restaurants, I did bartending, working events, anything I could get my hands on. And that’s how I paid for things.”

One of the highlights of her career was playing against the legendary Nicol David. Reflecting on the experience, she noted the difference in playing against someone of that caliber. “I always felt like an outsider… I just felt like I couldn’t catch up… You can train a lot, but you can catch up with match experience. So playing at that level, at that pace, is what’s tricky,” she said. 

After her time on the Pro Tour, Adel’s journey took another interesting turn. She ventured into CrossFit, even opening a gym in Qatar. “We opened a gym in Qatar.” Her passion for fitness and coaching led her to work with the Qatar Federation as the female national squash coach. “I was trying to develop these girls who have never played,” she said.

This experience highlighted the challenges of promoting women’s sports in certain cultural contexts. “There was a change of leadership. The former emir and his wife were very into promoting women, education, sport. And I think his son that took over is more traditional.” This shift ultimately led to her decision to leave. “I did think, ‘what am I doing?’ I need to feel like I have a purpose. I’m giving back and at the end of the day, I didn’t feel that any of those girls were going to be able to compete.”

Adel’s journey eventually brought her to New York City and Open Squash. Her vision for the future is clear: “I’d like more girls at Open Squash,” she said. “To get the girls hungry.” She emphasizes the importance of female coaches as role models. “Having female coaches, if you see someone who’s like you doing something, you believe you can do it,” she said. 

When asked what she would say to a young girl interested in playing squash, she responded with passion, “I would say come and try a great sport where you meet wonderful people and you can move your body and get all your frustrations out and compete,” she said. 

Adel Sammons' story is one of relentless pursuit, adaptability, and a deep commitment to empowering others through sport. Her experiences across continents and cultures have shaped her into a coach with a unique perspective and a powerful message. As she continues her work at Open Squash, her influence on the next generation of squash players, especially young girls, is sure to be profound.