By Emma DaCunha, Special to the Neighb News
Hi everyone! As we enjoy the summer and look ahead to a new school year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible things our local youth have accomplished this past year. One of those young leaders is Zarak Ahmad, a rising senior at Milton Academy who turned his passion for squash into an opportunity for local children by creating a free squash program at the Fall River YMCA*. Zarak’s goal was to make squash more accessible to young people in the community as he recognized that the sport is often expensive and out of reach for families. However, he saw an opportunity to change this at the Fall River YMCA.
While squash is less familiar to individuals in the United States, it has become a fast-growing racket sport that is played worldwide. It is similar to any other racket sport, in which two players take turns hitting the ball, but instead of hitting the ball over a net, players use the walls of a four-sided court that the ball will hit off of. The ball cannot bounce twice, and players must keep their shots within the boundary lines marked on the wall.
While squash continues to grow in popularity, it has already become a global sport and will be in the LA 28 Olympics for the first time.
Zarak’s passion for squash grew when he was in sixth grade, years before he decided to start the program. Although he was playing tennis at the time, his parents introduced him to squash because of their connection to Pakistan, a country known for having some of the greatest squash players in history.
Zarak Ahmed, a senior at Milton Academy, teaches a squash class at the Fall River YMCA, a YMCA Southcoast location. Submitted photos courtesy of Zarak Ahmed, Caleb Sadhwani, and Adam Defrias.
His introduction to squash encouraged him to try out a new racket sport and discover the unique challenges that came with the game.
“When I played, it fascinated me how there was a lot of technical skill like tennis, but also a strong mental component because of the four walls and the ability to use angles,’’ Zarak said. “That, combined with the fast-paced nature of the game, made me fall in love with it.’’
Years after playing squash himself, Zarak wanted to give others the same opportunity to discover the sport. However, he recognized that there were some barriers that were preventing others from learning the game, specifically the cost of it in the U.S.
“It has long been seen as a sport of the ‘elite,’ and I thought that needed to change,’’ Zarak said.
Unsure of where to start, Zarak found an opportunity at the Fall River YMCA and noticed that the courts were barely being put to use.
“I wasn’t sure how I would go about this, but I started playing at the Fall River YMCA and realized that the courts were rarely used,’’ he said. “I thought this could be a great way to bring the sport to kids in Fall River who did not have much exposure to it.’’
After noticing the opportunities he could start at the YMCA, he began to work on making this program come to life with help from a fellow squash player at his school, Caleb Sadhwani, who helped push for the start of the program and get it off the ground.
L-R: Stuart Legassic, Tabor Academy coach, helps out Zarak Ahmed on his first day teaching a squash class at the Fall River YMCA, a YMCA Southcoast location. Submitted photos courtesy of Zarak Ahmed, Caleb Sadhwani, and Adam Defrias.
However, starting up this program involved receiving funding and support from local organizations. Eventually, he was able to receive the support he needed from the BayCoast Bank and Southcoast Health. With the support of these organizations, Zarak was able to provide an opportunity for kids to participate in squash. Alongside Caleb, Zarak runs the program twice a week for two hours.
Zarak said, “Since there are two courts, we usually split up at first, with returning players doing drills and newer players learning the basics. Eventually, we bring everyone together to play and finish with group games.’’
The program has already left a positive impact on the Fall River community. According to Zarak, many of the participants have returned for more practices, while new kids continue to join the program by learning about it from others. This program has grown to become successful with the racket donations from BayCoast Bank and Southcoast that have allowed these kids to learn the fundamentals of the game.
Looking ahead, Zarak hopes the program will continue to thrive even after he graduates.
“I do plan to continue the program next year and beyond,’’ he said. “Since both Caleb and I will be in college, we hope to find other students, possibly from our school, who can continue it.’’
Caleb Sadhwani, a student at Milton Academy, displays a squash shot at the Fall River YMCA, a YMCA Southcoast location. Submitted photos courtesy of Zarak Ahmed, Caleb Sadhwani, and Adam Defrias.
While the program has positively impacted the community, it has allowed Zarak to use his passion to make a lasting impact.
“I think the biggest lesson I learned is the importance of perseverance and not getting discouraged,’’ Zarak said.
As the new school year approaches, Zarak’s efforts highlight the positive impact that youth leadership can have on the community and how a simple passion can make a difference.
That’s all for this week. Happy summer!
*The Fall River YMCA is part of YMCA Southcoast, which includes New Bedford, Dartmouth, Mattapoisett, and Wareham.
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