Black Ball Club shows off Egyptian prowess
on World Squash Day
Egypt
is currently dominating world squash and the Black Ball Sporting Club
in New Cairo will play a starring role on World Squash Day, this
Saturday 12 October.
The new
club, with 19 courts, has already hosted two major PSA World Tour events
in its first year of operation.
Karim
Abdel Gawad and Raneem El Welily won
the separate men's and women's events staged on the Black Ball Club's
own spectacular all-glass show court in December and March.
The same
court will be put to good use on World Squash Day when the club opens
its doors to attract new players.
Squash
Director Ashraf Hanafi said: "We will be welcoming new players
and also inviting local schools to join us on World Squash Day."
A special
film titled The Squash Pharaohs, about the current
Egyptian stars at the top of both the men's and women's world rankings,
is being premiered at the Black Ball Club on the following Saturday
(October 19th).
World
Squash Day is endorsed by the World Squash Federation and the
Professional Squash Association (PSA), who are supporting efforts to
attract one million new players to the sport over the next decade.
The UK is
leading the way with more than 200 events. England Squash have
set the bar very high, offering clubs equipment and funding packages in
partnership with leading squash brand Karakal.
Former
world champion Nick Matthew is spearheading a week-long project
at his lifelong training base, the Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club in
Sheffield.
Matthew,
who won the world title three times alongside three British Open
triumphs, said: "The World Squash Day programme has already started with
a Season Launch event and the Nick Matthew Junior Open, an
England Squash sanctioned Bronze event.
"On
Wednesday we host our first Yorkshire League home match of the season,
and on Thursday the Nick Matthew Academy will be holding an Open
Evening with free sessions for junior players of all abilities from far
and wide."
Youngsters will have the opportunity to get on court with Matthew
(revealed below) and coaching partner Neil Guirey, and learn from
conditioning expert Mark Campbell on the fitness side of the game.
Hallamshire will be hosting a full programme of fun activities on World
Squash Day, holding junior and adult drop-in sessions throughout the
day.
As well
as Hallamshire, World Squash Day has kicked off a week early in
Luxembourg with events being held at one venue that closes this week for
refurbishment.
In
Scotland, Inverness Tennis and Squash Club are holding a 24-hour squash
marathon to raise funds for the Highland Hospice starting at 7pm on
Friday. On World Squash Day the club will be encouraging members to
introduce family and friends to the game, alongside a doubles
competition, squash-related challenges and some fun activities.
The USA
will be celebrating World Squash Day in style, with events coinciding
with finals day of the US Open at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Events
are taking place across the country where World Squash Day was launched
following the death of numerous squash players during the terrorist
attacks of 9/11.
World
No.7 Diego Elias is scheduled to make an appearance at a World
Squash Day event in Miraflores in Peru alongside his fitness coach
Roberto Aliaga - although Elias might have to change his plans if he
reaches the final in Philly!
Events
are also taking place across South America in Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina
and Colombia.
In
Australia, squash enthusiasts will be taking to the streets in Brisbane
to hit balls against the walls of landmark buildings to raise the
profile of the sport.
Indoors,
the Daisy Hill Club, managed by Malta star Bradley Hindle, will
be holding a massive day of activity on the Saturday followed by a
special awards evening on the Monday.
While
Aussie ace Cameron Pilley will be competing in the US Open, his
family back home in Australia will be planning the WSD event at Club
Coops in Carseldine, Queensland, promising a day of fun and fitness.
In India,
former national champion and PSA World Tour star Ritwik Bhattacharya's
growing academy is running World Squash Day camps at squash clubs and
military bases.
The World
Squash Day map
www.worldsquashday.net/sign-up-here/
tracks every registered event, revealing activities from Armenia to
America, from Lebanon to London, from Wagga Wagga to Vancouver, from
Cape Town to Cairo, from Malaysia to Mexico, from Thailand to Toronto,
and from China to Cochabamba in Bolivia.
Our
picture shows members of the Miramar Club in Tripoli (above) preparing
for the big day as Nick Matthew tries on his World Squash Day
shirt at Hallamshire.
For
further information on World Squash Day, please visit
www.worldsquashday.net
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