Squash was invented in Harrow, making London the birthplace of squash. Squash is a fast racket sport: the ball can reach up to 170 miles per hour on a small indoor court. The game is hugely popular in places as diverse as Pakistan, Egypt, France and Australia. Top players need good levels of cardio fitness and hand-eye co-ordination. PRO FACT The first squash players used rubber balls, which squashed against walls when hit (hence the name 'squash').