|
15/03/2008
WSF NEWS
World Squash Day Unites Sport's Enthusiasts Around The Globe
Squash enthusiasts around
the globe are uniting for World Squash Day Saturday 15
March 2008 when special activities are being arranged at clubs and sports centres
all over the world to highlight the appeal of the racket sport which is played
by more than 15 million men and women on all five continents.
World Squash Day
is endorsed by the World Squash Federation and supported by all Regional
Federations and Member National Federations - all of which are organising events
in their countries, a brief selection of which is highlighted below.
In the UK, organisers have
joined forces with Sport Relief 2008 - the well-established fund-raising
campaign, linked to Comic Relief, which is supported by famous faces from the
worlds of sport and entertainment.
Squash fans have the
opportunity to go on court for a special coaching session with England's world
No4 James Willstrop in aid of World Squash Day and Sport Relief.
Willstrop has donated a free coaching session to Sport Relief which will be put
up for auction on
www.worldsquash.org
over the next 48 hours.
Another session will be
auctioned live to the sell-out crowd during Finals Day of the ISS Canary
Wharf Classic at the fabulous East Wintergarden venue, where Willstrop is
defending his title. All proceeds will be donated to Sport Relief.
"I am delighted to be
supporting World Squash Day and Sport Relief," said the England number one.
"World Squash Day is helping to promote the sport in an amazing way and Sport
Relief is raising huge sums of money for worthwhile causes. It’s great that
squash can be part of that process.”
In South Africa,
the Gauteng Deaf Association is hosting a morning tournament at the Old
Edwardians Courts in Johannesburg, while the Witwatersrand University has a
Grand Prix Tournament.
The Hi-Tec South African
Schools Closed Championships - featuring players from each major province and
the Country Districts areas - will also be played in Johannesburg. Venue
manager Craig van der Wath plans to hang flags from different countries
to add to the atmosphere!
In Port Elizabeth,
Angela Difford is running a clinic for the disadvantaged youth on World
Squash Day. Funded by the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa, the
event is expected to attract about 40 scholars.
In Potchefstroom (180 kms
from Johannesburg) there will be a similar clinic run by Christo Potgieter
and Philip Schlebusch at the Potchefstroom Boys High School for players
of colour.
Coach Mike Bester
is travelling to Nelspruit in Mpumulanga to run a coaching workshop for all ages
and all levels of skill - while Sven and Cecile van Rie will be running a
Marking and Refereeing Clinic in Boksburg on the East Rand.
Squash New Zealand
Chief Executive Mike Thompson is a big fan of the World Squash Day
concept, and the positive impact it has on the game. He says that has led
Squash New Zealand to adopt a similar concept for the National Squash Club
Weekend early next month. "I'm convinced if people give squash a go, they will
be pleasantly surprised at how much fun it is."
National Squash Weekend
will be held on April 5 and 6, in association with two major sponsors in the New
Zealand Community Trust and Prince. 198 clubs around the country will open
their doors to the public on both days, with all gear provided to anyone who
wants to give it a go.
The Sindh Squash
Association in Pakistan will be organising events in Karachi and
Hyderabad. Junior events will be held at the Karachi Club and Jahangir Khan
Squash Complex in Karachi, together with a men's event at the JK Complex.
Exhibition matches will be
held at the Hyderabad Gymkhana Squash Complex and a Coaching Clinic and Fun
Games will be held at the SSB Squash Complex in Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium.
Jordi Bercedo,
of the Canary Islands Squash Federation, is hosting the first Canary
Islands Squash Challenger. "I hope everybody will participate in this
tournament that will be held in the Centro Insular de Squash de Tenerife (venue
of the PSA Canary Islands Open)," said Bercedo.
A 24-hour squash marathon
is being planned at the Squash Club Sport & Wellness Centrum in Hungary.
"We guarantee lots of fun and non-stop sport! Don't miss it," urged organiser
Zoltan Sebok.
The Jindal Squash Academy
in India is celebrating World Squash Day with a special event for
mentally/physically challenged kids on the theme “Every Child Is Special”.
|
