Episode 392 Bassim Haidar - Optasia Championship

PSA Gold and Platinum events are back—and with them, one of the standout tournaments on the calendar: the Optasia Championship, and with that we’re joined by Bassim Haidar—Founder of Optasia and the driving force behind the event. Bassim shares his personal squash journey, from how he first got into the sport to becoming one of its most impactful supporters. We dive into his entrepreneurial story—launching companies in his early 20s and building Optasia into what it is today—before exploring what inspired him to invest in squash and help elevate it on the global stage. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at his long-standing support of the Mohamed ElShorbagy and Marwan ElShorbagy, his relationship with the Professional Squash Association, and how he’s seen the professional game evolve over the years. With squash set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics, Bassim shares his thoughts on what the sport needs to do to capitalize on this historic moment. We also discuss: His partnership with Danny Lee and what makes the Optasia event tick The current and next generation of top players What he’d change about the global squash landscape And, of course, what he’s most excited about for this year’s Optasia Championship A brilliant conversation with one of the key figures helping push squash forward.