Yin Ziyuan – A future star of the Chinese squash scene?
Yin’s rapid ascent in squash first started at the age of eight through her father’s club.
She had tried her hand at several other sports but found herself drawn to squash, a racquet sport well known for its cerebral element as the ‘chess of sports’: “I liked squash because the court is small, it requires a lot of thinking, and it’s fun.
Nowadays, her schedule works to combine life and sport with a tight daily routine.
“I usually finish school around 3:30 pm and head straight to the club for training, which lasts until 8 or 9 at night. I study during meals or on the commute home. On weekends, I train longer – about two sessions a day – and spend the rest of the time studying.”
Just last month, Yin won the U13 girls’ title at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in the Republic of Korea, marking a significant step in her trajectory and a breakthrough for Chinese squash.
With a fledgling program and no players with a Professional Squash Association (PSA) ranking, Yin’s recent achievement points to a welcomed sense of progress, not least as the sport prepares to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
On the possibility of competing at the Olympics, the Shanghai native shared the moment she discovered her sport had made it to the Games.
“When I found out squash was going to be in the Olympics, I was so excited. I told myself I had a dream: to stand on the Olympic stage one day.
“There are still three years to go, and I’ll work hard to improve step by step.”
Now competing at The World Games 2025, Yin is valuing the experience before any results. “Players in the PSA top ten play at such a fast pace, while us juniors are still a bit slower. This match gave me a glimpse of that intensity, and I want to keep learning from it,” she said.
“Age doesn’t necessarily determine skill. Everyone in the team is training hard.”
And while her opening round may have started with a loss, Yin is not done yet. She will continue to compete in the classification rounds, where the focus will be on banking crucial minutes of exposure to squash at the international level. “These matches give us more chances to play and learn,” she said, “And that’s really valuable.”