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Boasting a squad
of more than 80 juniors, Squash Club Pilatus is a vibrant four-court club in the
historic city of Luzern, overlooked by Mount Pilatus. Inspired by coach
Pascal Bruhin, the club recently won the national junior team title, and
nurtured nine of the 13 players in the country's current national junior squad.
Excitingly, plans are underway for an additional four courts to be constructed.
At a press
reception in honour of the WISPA stars, attended by civic dignitaries, club
President Marcel Schuler acknowledged that the visit was unique in the
club's 30-year history.
"Last week our
athletes won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Swiss junior
championships, and our A-team won the Swiss Junior Inter-Club championship,"
explained Schuler. "And we hope that this visit will further motivate us in our
efforts to develop junior squash."
Schuler also
paid tribute to Pascal Bruhin - "the father of our success".
After popular
sessions in which all of the club youngsters had the chance to be on court with
the three WISPA stars, it was standing room only when Swiss women's number two
Sara Guebey challenged Siyoli Lusaseni, the country's men's junior number
two Lukas Burkhart took on Madeline Perry; and the new Swiss men's junior
champion Patrick Miescher faced Nicol David.
"I was very
happy with the whole event," said Pascal Bruhin afterwards. "I knew all the
matches would be close and I'm sure my players learned so much from their
experiences. It's fantastic to see such sporting excellence from these top
world sportswomen.
"It has been a
huge success and I am so grateful for what the girls have done for us -
especially Nicol David. They had so many questions for her," added Bruhin. "I
know our juniors absolutely loved it!"
Michael Mueller,
the Technical Director of Swiss Squash, also paid tribute to the
contribution made by the WISPA visit: "Firstly, it is incredible that our
junior girls have had the chance to play with these top world stars. Not only
to meet their idols and to talk to them, but to be on court with them too, is a
unique experience.
"They have also
been able to see the standard of top women's squash - and to have Nicol David
herself here is a big honour for us. Not only is she such a great player, but
also a wonderful ambassador for the sport," added Mueller.
"And, lastly, we
hope that Nicol and Siyoli's visit to our country will end successfully when
they present our case to the IOC to be in the Olympic Games!"
Andrew Shelley,
the prime mover in the WISPA Promotional Tour concept which was launched ten
years ago with the inaugural visit to the Czech Republic, concluded: "It may be
stating the obvious, but youngster are the future of Squash, so to link up with
large groups of them and their coaches thriving at Swiss clubs is very special.
"And for us to
meet so many girls enjoying playing and socialising does a great deal for the
top WISPA players who have freely given up their time and energy. The club
juniors were certainly inspired, but so too were Nicol, Madeline and Siyoli.
"We were made to
feel so welcome and have made many great new friends in Zurich and Luzern. I am
sure we will do so again on our second leg in Rome."
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