Former Asiad champ Beng Hee sparks squash boom in China with grassroots drive

Turning fantasy into reality: Ong Beng Hee (back row, middle) at his Dream Squash Academy with players from Malaysia. — SRAFTKL

PETALING JAYA: Ong Beng Hee’s Dream Squash Academy in China is nearing its one-year anniversary, and it’s already making waves beyond borders.

What began as a ground-breaking venture to grow the sport at the grassroots level has blossomed into a thriving academy, now a home to nearly 200 players, including over 120 juniors and 70 adults.

Now boasting eight courts and four assistant coaches, former world No. 7 Beng Hee said the academy has kept him busy, but he relished the packed schedule.

“We have been very busy since we opened. In just under a year, close to 200 players have come through our doors regularly,” said Beng Hee, who manages the academy full-time.

The 45-year-old, who began his international coaching journey in 2017 with Qatar before a successful stint as head coach of the United States from 2021-2024, is no stranger to building squash cultures.

Beng Hee said the sport’s trend in China is on the rise, especially among junior players, as many families view the sport as a pathway to further their education in universities across the United States and England.

“There’s a mini boom in China’s squash community, with many families seeing squash as another option for school admissions in the US,” said Beng Hee.

“The US has become a very attractive destination, and the facilities there are world-class. They have many courts and are well maintained.

“It’s something that I wanted to bring to Malaysia initially, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the support, so we started it in China,” said the two-time Asian Games gold medallist.

The inclusion of squash at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has also boosted the sport’s interest across the world, making it an ideal time to develop talents at grassroots.

Although the academy is based in China, Beng Hee has made it a point to support Malaysian squash development in any way he can.

He recently invited five young players from Kuala Lumpur and Penang for a fully sponsored training stint at his academy.

“It was the first time we invited players from Malaysia to train here, and we invested a lot into them to give them exposure and experience abroad.

“It’s my way of giving something back to Malaysia. I want to create another path for Malaysian kids,” he said.

Beng Hee admitted that the academy’s early days were challenging, but he stayed true to the course to develop the sport at the ground level.

“Of course, initially it was difficult in terms of funding, but someone has to do it, right? So let me show them the way,” he said.