“The Olympics could help squash become more well-known to the world”
Now, spending most of her time in the UK, having graduated from Roehampton University, it’s impossible to deny that Watanabe is a squash player on the march.
Currently ranked No. 6 in the latest set of PSA World Squash Rankings – the highest ever for a Japanese squash player in history – she stands tall as her country’s top prospect for the Olympic sport set to debut at Los Angeles 2028.
“I’m very pleased with where I am at the moment, but at the same time, that’s still not quite the goal yet,” Watanabe says of her current positioning, flashing her renewed sense of ambition. “I just take it as a confidence in myself.”
While it may not be quite where she would yet like to be, her successes are slowly starting to attract attention within Japan, which in turn is bringing a sense of pride and joy to the squash star, not least as the Olympics come into view.
“Quite a lot of Japanese players have said to me, and even Japanese squash fans have said to me, “Oh, you’re doing great in whatever you’re doing,” she shares. “I’m just very happy that these days, a lot of players or even the fans are watching more professional squash!
“If by me trying to achieve whatever goal I’m looking at can help to grow squash in Japan, that would be great.”
On the subject of the Games and squash’s inclusion, the opportunity to compete on sport’s greatest stage has undoubtedly intensified everything for Watanabe.
“It means a lot,” she says. “Even though we wanted to make it [the Olympics] as a goal, we couldn’t because our sport was not in the Olympics. But now we can set that as a goal, to have something to work even harder for and then play for your country as well, I think it means a lot to me.”
It also means a lot, too, for squash.
“It probably brings a lot more acknowledgement of what squash is, and also I think how dynamic the sport is or how fascinating the sport is as well,” Watanabe continues. “I think by getting into the Olympics, the Olympics could help squash become more well-known to the world as well. That’s what I’m hoping for as well.”
Currently competing in the women’s squash singles event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, People’s Republic of China, it’s clear that even with three years to go, LA28 is very much on Watanabe’s mind.
“I just take it as a good preparation for the Olympics,” the Japanese says of her appearance at the multisport showcase where she is competing as the No.1 seed.
“Having to represent the country but also having this kind of pressure or even like a little bit of nerves in this game probably can help me to a little simulate how it’s going to be in the Olympics.”
Watanabe Satomi will continue her quest for The World Games women’s singles squash title with the semi-finals scheduled for Monday, 11 August at 16:00 CST.