Straight after he dismantled Martin Kegel in the Men’s Squash Round of 32 match on Friday, Ryunosuke Tsukue was the calmest one at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Public Fitness Gymnasium.
He may have been the favourite against the Croatian but there’d be no surprise if he had euphorically celebrated afterwards given that Chengdu is his first edition of The World Games.
Add onto that, he is, for now, Japan’s lone representative in the men’s draw — a distinction that others might trumpet, but he carries like a backpack: useful, but not the point of the journey.
“I’m trying not to really think about that,” said Japan’s number one player when asked about being labelled the face of men’s Japanese squash. “I’m just trying to focus one match at a time. I’m trying to enjoy the match itself and play the game that I usually bring, and then if that brings a win… that’s very good.”
“I’m more focused on enjoying and playing my best in each match.”
It is the voice of someone who has worked to keep the noise out, even as the results have been piling in. Tsukue – who also works as a recruiter for pachinko company Dynam - has an astonishing eleven titles so far on the Professional Squash Association Tour, three years after he became professional and more so than any other player from Japan, all at the age of 27.
He will have to wait for a podium place though as he got knocked out last night by top seed and defending champion of The World Games Victor Crouin 3-1 in the round of 16. He will therefore now continue his quest in Chengdu in the consolatory Plate matches.
Chengdu was always going to be difficult due to the side of the draw, but the podium was still in his sights – as it should be for all competitive athletes.
This week however holds dearer to Tsukue than most competitions as it marks his first major tournament back after a hamstring tear, the matter of playing in China signifying much more than a medal. “I’m looking to get on the podium, but at the same time it’s one of the first tournaments back after I had the injury,” he said before his elimination to Crouin. “I’m just hoping to have a good run and hopefully this tournament can help me have a good season throughout the year.”
Into a gold medal match however — and on another trajectory — is Satomi Watanabe.
The world number six is top seed in the Women’s Squash event at The World Games 2025, and arrives in China from one of her greatest achievements yet.
She booked a place in this year’s PSA World Tour Finals as the competition’s debut Japanese player where she reached the semifinals.
“Throughout the last season I was aiming to be in the World Tour Finals,” said Watanabe who today defeated Marta Dominguez of Spain in the semi-finals 3-0. “I was focusing on getting into the top 10, so that was a bonus for me. Being in the tour finals was something special.”
She may not have won but the accolade of even competing at the Finals can’t be sniffed at. The prestigious competition is made up of eight of the best ranked Squash players across the season, highlighting that the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games bronze medallist isn’t just a world class operator, but a consistent one.
The mental side has been the key shift in her game. Working with sports psychologists she believes has given her the required toolkit for those razor-edge moments in matches where skill alone isn’t enough. “My consistency level has improved, and I think that’s from the mental side. I’ve started working with some psychologists… That different approach helps bring me back to a neutral position, to just focus until I shake your hand and finish the match.”
That focus was tested in her convincing win over Dominguez. A match that, despite ending in straight games, Watanabe felt was anything but routine.
“It was still a tight three love...,” said Watanabe shortly after the match. “I just watched that game again (their last match in December) and analyzed what's her strength and weaknesses.”
“She can pick up the ball, she hits the ball really well, so I was just telling myself, be patient, wait until she gives me some loose ball in the middle, and then try to hold it well, because that's also my signature style.”
For both athletes, Chengdu represents two very different things.
For Tsukue, it’s the chance to reinstate his place in the elite of Squash after a lengthy period out whilst for Watanabe, The World Games is a matter of continuing from where she left off and further cementing her place as one of the world’s best.
The results will come, or they won’t. The podium will be reached (for Watanabe), or not (for Tsukue). But in the meantime, two of Japan’s brightest squash players are quietly — and with great intent — building something very special for their country.